Die rote Lilie

In the silent year of 1925, Herr Fred Niblo directed Herr Novarro in "Ben-Hur", a colossal silent film production that made its way into film history for its magnificence and grandiloquence, but just one year before, both director and actor worked together in a modest, small silent film production as magnificent in its way as "Ben-Hur"; you only have to change ancient Rome for Paris and you have "The Red Lily".

"The Red Lily" is a superb silent film that must be recovered from oblivion for the joy of silent fan crowds around the world ( nowadays a more easy task since the longhaired people at "Warner" decided to open up their archive vaults ). The film is a small piece that highlights the virtues of silent cinema in which the complications of human nature play the lead in the film. It's a beautiful and sorrowful love story that defies destiny and moves the audience in an irresistible way.

The love story between the Major's son Jean ( Herr Ramon Novarro ) and the cobbler's daughter Marise ( Dame Enid Bennett ) will have to overcome difficult and terrible circumstances. As a German saying says "when you think that things are bad, they get worse" and that it is what happens during the whole film until a happy ending will finally bring the couple together. Set in French Brittany, social prejudices and an unjust robbery accusation will send Jean and Marise to Paris, a big city where the love of our sweethearts will suffer a terrible turning point in their lives.

Herr Niblo's superb film direction shows the fragility, uncertainty and changeability of the inner human sentiments of our heroes; they will suffer despair and hate, helplessness together in squalid conditions and, worst of all, broken dreams. Jean and Marise suffer their special "Way of the Cross" depicted on the screen by Herr Niblo with a deep, painful sorrow. It's a private tragedy full of deception that rules the lives of our heroes in which it seems that destiny is continuously sneering at them.

Astounding and remarkable is the performance of Dame Bennett in her role of Marise, one of those classical heroines of silent films; her transformation from a mild peasant to a prostitute is brilliant, an excellent example of the greatness of silent pictures and superior actresses, in which a look, a timid gesture, a cry for help, can still move longhaired audiences to trembling even today.

The film is perfectly set in different surroundings; from the Brittany provincialism and their peculiar peasants and prejudices to the Paris slums full of decadent and distinctive characters. Besides exceptional art direction you also have the great cinematography of Herr Victor Milner; it's luminous and hopeful in Brittany and gloomy in the breathless and eternal Paris night, until the finale when the sun will shine again in the broken lives of Jean and Marise.

"The Red Lily" is a beautiful film pregnant with infinite sadness about the fragility of love and life, redemption and forgiveness; a touching film story, a hidden and wonderful silent piece.

And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must give a bouquet of stinging nettles to a Teutonic rich heiress.

Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/

The Red Lily is the story of a boy (Ramon Novarro) and a girl (Enid Bennett) who fall in love. His father does not approve of their potentially marrying because she is poor and has lost her father. However, the two plan to wed anyway and the father disowns his son. Problems arise with the father that tears them apart, often just steps away from finding each other but to no avail. Their lives change drastically in the process, the girl turning to prostitution to make a living and the boy teaming up with a thief named Bobo (Wallace Beery) and running from the law.

The plot of the film is brilliantly done; there is plenty of tension throughout the film which puts the audience's emotions into overdrive. The film was shot extremely well; every frame is a work of art. The tinting is not overdone at all either. The characters are very likable, thanks to the wonderful acting by the cast. Bennett is appropriately tragic and sweet, but not in a bland way. She makes a very traditional role into something special. Novarro is great making his transition from a devoted protector to a paranoid hardened man of the streets. Beery is at his best here; every expression is a delight to watch. He balances humor and sincerity very well.

Scott Salinas provides a gorgeous and perfect score for the TCM presentation of the film. He truly understand the art of bringing emotion to a scene; he managed to make every note blend excellently with the fabric of the story.

This is silent movie making at its best, and thanks to an awesome restoration, new audiences can begin to appreciate Hollywood history.

This is one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. I have never been a silent film fan,until now. This was the first silent film I actually watched until the end. The story could have easily turned into melodrama and soap opera. But it was expertly written, with just the right romantic and dramatic nuances. It is a classic story, encompassing the many trials and tribulations of love. Both Enid Bennet and Ramon Novarro were amazing as the two romantic lead characters. The range of emotions that shown on both their faces was remarkable. The newly composed musical score was both classic and contemporary,adding to the beautiful tapestry of this film classic.

Small town innocents Jean and Marise pledge undying love for each other and decide to run off to Paris. Once in the big city they are separated when Jean's father sends detective's after him. He eventually breaks free of them but fails to reunite with Marise and the two go it alone. He takes up with thugs while Marise struggling to make an honest living is exploited and ends up on the street. When they meet again much the worse for wear Jean rejects Marise violently.

Filled with casual cruelty The Red Lily's depressing storyline is vividly realized through the chiaroscuro photography of Victor Milner (The General Died at Dawn). Reminiscent of Brassai's classic photos of the Paris underbelly Lily is populated with a rogues gallery of low lifes and criminals and their haunts. As the lovers Ramon Novarro and Enid Bennett are both outstanding transitioning from innocence to depravity. Director Fred Niblo captures their dissent in devastating close-up and the sweeping change in both is almost as startling as Dr. Jekyl's.

Niblo's film remains uncompromisingly dark until the tacked on last scene which undermines the power and impact of the story. Something tells me studio head Louie Mayer had more to do with this than Niblo who up until that point was crafting a pre-mature work of Poetic Realism.

TCM premiered this Ramon Novarro - Enid Bennett silent film, The Red Lily, on March 26, 2006. The print was very good to excellent, switching from black and white to an orange tint for night scenes. The new musical score by Scott Salinas, who did the new score for Lon Chaney's Laugh, Clown, Laugh was very fine, and appropriate for the mood of the film.

It was a pleasure to see a silent film with Enid Bennett. She was married to the director, Fred Niblo, and she obviously worked well with him. Not too many of her silent films survive or are available for viewing. Her performance was exceptional here and reminded me of Lillian Gish in The Scarlet Letter. Ramon Novarro had a real juicy part he could sink his teeth into, and he gave an outstanding performance, one year before his starring role in 1925's Ben-Hur, A Tale of the Christ. Wallace Beery does well with a supporting role as a gambling friend of Ramon's character.

The plot revolves around a couple who had been childhood sweethearts. When the girl's father dies she is sent to live with relatives who abuse her. Rushing back home to a deserted house she meets up with her young lover and they fall asleep in front of the fireplace together. When confronted the next morning by the townsfolk they flee to Paris. A set of ironic circumstances separate them and life takes its toll on both of them.

I definitely recommend that you see The Red Lily. I wish all silent films could receive such nice restorations and musical treatments.