West Point

Before I talk specifics about this movie, I need to point out that it really isn't fair to give this movie a score of 10 (like some have) since it is essentially the same film that William Haines did many times before. Also, how much you like this film will depend on if you've seen other Haines films. Haines made a career out of often playing the exact same plot and exact same character in a variety of settings--something that would never fly today, but in his day was very popular. Having seen films like BROWN OF HARVARD and THE SMART SET, I quickly recognized WESTPOINT as essentially the same film! These aren't the only ones he made like this either and each went like this:

A talented but very cocky guy alienates everyone around him with his boorish ways. He also meets and soon alienates a pretty girl with his cocky and selfish manner. Eventually, when almost everyone hates him, he learns humility and saves the day. When the film ends, he gets the girl, is the "big man" and has learned to be part of a team.

So already WESTPOINT has a huge strike against it because it's so unoriginal and the best example of the word "formulaic" I have ever seen. You can't get any more identical than the plots in these films--not similar, but identical!!

Here, not surprisingly, he meets and alienates himself from young Joan Crawford. In addition, he's a super-talented athlete and is the big star of the team--but he's also such a jerk that he eventually is without friends and is hated by all. At this point, he gets his act together and it's all "happily ever after".

As far as the quality of the film goes, the direction and most of the acting is great. However, surprisingly, Haines is even more hateful and obnoxious than in his other films and all the jokes he tells and way he acts at the beginning of the film made me hate his guts. Sorry, but that was just my gut reaction. A nice film--too bad it's been done...many times.

William Haines sparks this tale of a brash cadet who thinks West Point will really be something now that he has arrived. Terrific goony comic performance by Haines was his trademark--one that made him a top box office star from 1928-1932 and one of MGM's biggest stars. Joan Crawford and William Bakewell are fine too. And although this storyline may seem trite now, this was a huge hit, putting Haines and Crawford in a college football (a national craze during the 20s) story. After Haines blows off his big mouth one time too often and nearly gets shunned by fellow cadets, he turns in a wonderful performance as he swallows his pride and gets into the big game against Navy. Even with a broken arm, he wins the game for Army and regains his place at West Point. It's easy to see from this film and Show People (with the always underrated Marion Davies) why Billy Haines was a huge star of the time. He needs and deserves to be remembered!

William Haines was undoubtedly one of the best actors of the silent screen and to prove my point all you have to do is watch WEST POINT, starring Haines and Joan Crawford. Although it's a silent, I saw it with a marvelous musical score by David Davidson that hit the mark all the way and in what appears to be a restoration that puts it in mint condition. It gets the comic treatment most of the time with Haines as a spoiled rich boy being tamed to become a good cadet and win the girl in the end as well as the respect of his team mates. His assurance in broad comedy is a delight to behold, mugging in a way that Cary Grant would envy--a very appealing performance.

Fun to see William Bakewell in an early role too. As host Robert Osborne pointed out, he probably got his biggest moment of fame in GONE WITH THE WIND as the soldier on horseback who tells Scarlett O'Hara she better get out of Atlanta quickly. Here he plays the hero-worshipper friend of Haines, a not too subtle characterization as contrasted to Haines' ability with silent screen technique.

Enjoyable fluff, with titles that seem more modern in their slang than most silent films manage to do. Nothing new here, but it's still fresh in its appeal.

Joan Crawford is barely recognizable long before her make-over as a full-fledged star but does well with an ingenue role. The film belongs to Haines and he makes the most of it.

Interesting story of coming of age of a young man who has yet to take the world seriously. William Haines plays his part so as to not evoke any sympathy -- one wonders if this was his idea or that of director Edward Sedgwick. Haines portrays a real louse who really doesn't deserve a second chance or Joan Crawford. Do all young men really need Army discipline before they can make their contribution? The interplay between Haines and the Corps is probably realistic and offer a rare inside look into the socialization and molding of officers at the US Military Academy. Joan does a passable job but looks great. Well developed story will surprise those who think that all silent films offer little in the way of value today. Best shot in the movie is the superimposition of former soldiers from various eras over the marching of the band at the June graduation parade. I may be wrong, but it appears that Edward Brophy is one of those extras seated in a train departing from West Point -- he is credited as an Assistant Director in this movie as well as being credited in a documentary West Point made in 1927. Fair, but especially recommended for graduates of the USMA and those who would like to see a bit of the inside story.

West Point is where America's next generation of land forces officers are trained. Brice Wayne (William Haines) is an arrogant playboy who immediately falls for local gal Betty Channing (Joan Crawford) as he becomes a new cadet. He gets onto the football team.

This silent film starts with Haines being annoyingly arrogant. In time, I do grow to accept him. Despite that, his violent outbursts keep me from fully embracing him. This type of humor works better with sound. Brice needs to win me over and his voice would help. This does have Joan Crawford in her silent era and I do eventually like Brice.