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Fox Film Corporation
Not part of a collection.
"An artistic masterpiece and also a joy to watch."
A married farmer falls under the spell of a slatternly woman from the city, who tries to convince him to drown his wife.
CinemaSerf
Mar 27, 2022 · via TMDB
Wow! Friedrich Murnau really did pull out all of the stops for this gorgeously complex and beautiful story - that is entirely based on human character flaws that ordinarily might make one squirm... None of the characters actually have names, but George O'Brien is contentedly married to Janet Gaynor, living on their farm with their young child. One day, he happens upon the visiting Margaret Livingstone - an urban sophisticate with whom he is soon captivated. Conscious of his duty to his wife, he is reluctant to join her in the big city, so she rather malevolently suggests that he and his wife fake a boating accident in which she drowns and he survives... Disgracefully, he agrees and so the couple set out on their trip, but when he tries to push her overboard he bottles it and she flees in terror into the city where he finally catches up with her, and craves her forgiveness. Luckily for him, she agrees and the couple spend a charming day together experiencing all the luxuries the metropolis can offer before being caught in the mother of all storms as they head home at the end of their day. Try as he might, though, he cannot put the memory of the other woman behind him, and his thoughts take a much darker turn... The story is basically a tale of good vs. evil, temptation and sin - and not always presented in any clear cut scenario. Despite being a thoroughly odious and selfish man, I didn't hate O'Brien's character - weak and fickle is it was; and the temptress Livingstone isn't hateful either - it's all about human nature and what makes us tick - warts and all. The photography is super - especially in the salon where they are both pampered and seduced, and the storm sequence at the end is also very effective. By 1927, silent films had learned the art of condensing their stories - and this is done really well here, too. The film has a pace that doesn't linger long, and is really a joy to watch.
Andres Gomez
May 17, 2014 · via TMDB
Interesting but much more for how the movies were done back in 1927 and how the relationships between men and women were understood.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Fandango At Home
George O'Brien
The Man (Anses)
Janet Gaynor
The Wife (Indre)
Margaret Livingston
The Woman from the City
Bodil Rosing
The Maid
J. Farrell MacDonald
The Photographer
Jane Winton
The Manicure Girl
Arthur Housman
The Obtrusive Gentleman
Eddie Boland
The Obliging Gentleman
Herman Bing
Streetcar Conductor (uncredited)
Sidney Bracey
Dance Hall Manager (uncredited)
Gino Corrado
Manager of Hair Salon (uncredited)
Sally Eilers
Woman in Dance Hall (uncredited)
Gibson Gowland
Angry Driver (uncredited)
Thomas Jefferson
Old Seaman (uncredited)
Bob Kortman
Villager (uncredited)
F. W. Murnau
Dancer (uncredited)
Barry Norton
Ballroom Dancer / Kissing Couple (uncredited)
Robert Parrish
Boy (uncredited)
Sally Phipps
Ballroom Dancer / Kissing Couple (uncredited)
Harry Semels
Carnival Gallery Man with Pig (uncredited)
Phillips Smalley
Head Waiter (uncredited)
Leo White
Barber (uncredited)
Clarence Wilson
Money Lender (uncredited)
Edgar G. Ulmer
Assistant Art Director
Charles Rosher
Director of Photography
Karl Struss
Director of Photography
Charles Dudley
Makeup Artist
Frank D. Williams
Special Effects
Herman Bing
Assistant Director
F. W. Murnau
Director
William Fox
Producer
Carli Elinor
Music
Erno Rapee
Music
Hugo Riesenfeld
Original Music Composer
Hermann Sudermann
Author
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To the Wonder
Sep 23, 1927
New York City, New York
Nov 4, 1927
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Bicara Cinta
2020
The Pied Pipers of Harlow
1965
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
Trivia
Leaderboard →Playing as a guest — sign in to save your score and rank on the leaderboard.
Movie Trivia
Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
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