A Girl's Folly

Ah, those oldest of silent films: many, with severely degraded prints (if they're not lost); often coming across as distinctly staged, one scene at a time, and therefore possibly unsophisticated; characterized by acting with exaggerated body language and facial expression to compensate for lack of sound and verbal dialogue; generally displaying inserted intertitles with ease, but struggling to make legible the writing or print on pieces of paper in the camera's eye. None of these facets are inherent marks against such features, though they understandably make old movies difficult to engage with for some modern viewers - and 'A girl's folly' is not free of them. There's a casual air to the storytelling that makes it seem like this isn't terribly concerned with its own legacy, a care for passive amusement over lasting investment for the viewer. (As if to accentuate the point, fairly or not it feels like the plot doesn't really show up until about halfway through.) It's a title that's not likely to appeal to those who aren't already enamored of the silent era, but both on its own merits and as a surviving slice of early cinema it still deserves remembrance.

In turn we are treated to light humor, mild drama, and glimmers of earnest heart as the narrative progresses. Some cleverness is dotted throughout, such as in depicting a film within the film, and there are tricks of editing and cinematography that in 1917 were still rather novel and advanced. Moreover, there's an unexpected level of detail in some shots, to say nothing of the attention given to costume design, hair and makeup, and production design at large. And even though the material is quite unbothered, the assembled cast do a fine job of bringing their characters to life from one moment to the next, and helping to realize the story. I suppose it's worth noting that, as was broadly true of pictures from 100 years ago, there are instances of antiquated attitudes or values here and there - language employed in intertitles relating dialogue, a stereotypical reaction to a small critter. In fairness, however, it's all in the spirit of a good time, and no such indelicacy impresses as anything more than "tired."

In no capacity does 'A girl's folly' stand out so much as to demand viewership. Make no mistake, this is simpler entertainment for a simpler time. The plot we do ultimately get, of a small-town girl aspiring to more and learning something along the way, is suitably enjoyable, if unremarkable. Everyone involved does a swell job of selling that story. Only, except for the basic fact that it's a surviving silent film, there's no specific reason why this should earn one's time over its many contemporaries or successors. I want to like it more than I do, for that matter, but a feature that isn't striking in one way or another suffers a noteworthy strike against it, and that's on top of the discretely indifferent flavor of the plot. Still, though when all is said and done you don't need to go out of your way for it, this is modestly worthwhile if you come across it. Provided you're looking for a pleasant diversion over an absorbing barnburner, 'A girl's folly' is a duly satisfying way to spend an hour.

Two days ago I watched "The Beloved Blackmailer" (1918) with matinée idol Carlyle Blackwell. The film was made in Fort Lee, New Jersey. The DVD on which it's released is a tribute to two films made in Fort Lee, and last night I watched the other on the DVD, "A Girl's Folly" (1917) with another silent matinée idol, Robert Warwick. It's really interesting to watch Robert Warwick when he was younger, although he was already 39 when he made this film!! I still remember him 33 years later (!) when he played the drunken sot Charlie Waterman in the poignant Bogart film "In A Lonely Place" (1950). Many may recall that part because it was done so well. He went on to act in many, many more films and on TV until 1962! Anyway, in this film he's an actor in a silent troupe who has a lady he's "kept" for some time, played by June Elvidge. He's tiring of her, although there's still some flame, and he admits as much to a friend. But the troupe goes to the country to do some scenes and there Warwick meets Doris Kenyon who's tired of the country, bored, and wants to go to the big city and "live". She gets a chance to do so because of her chance encounter with Warwick, and she goes to the studio and does a film test. It's a bomb! Since she's a failure, Warwick offers her a chance to stay and be "his", not meaning his wife, but his "kept" woman. She accepts. Doris Kenyon, to say the least, was very lovely to look at in this film. She was a genuine beauty. And all natural, not a made up lock or swipe or painted part about her.

This could have been any number of pre-code sound films made between 1928-1933. It had all the ingredients. The ending, however, was more like the Breen Code post 1933 films. It ends happily, with everybody ending up where he or she belongs. It was a very mild ending, for that matter, but it was a good romp getting there. What was most interesting - in fact, it was greatly fascinating to me and would be to many on this board - were the scenes of making a silent film! Studio habits, the old cameras, the making of sets, both inside and outside - all was here and shown in graphic detail. Make up and make up artists. Direction from a silent director - what there was of it - or not. One of the title cards read: "Often the actors don't know anything about the plot". Very, very interesting, to say the least.

Also, the fact that a cowboy style film was being made, and that in New Jersey! Of course, we must remember where "The Great Train Robbery" (1903) was made... Interesting film historically. Interesting to see Robert Warwick, another early matinée idol who's been all but forgotten, although he did have a very long career (nearly 50 years) and may be known by his face if seen by many. A recommended look at the past, to be sure.

One last note: this film has been available only in a 38 minute truncated version for the last nearly 95 years. This print is the complete film, nearly 70 minutes long. It has some severe nitrate deterioration in a couple of places, but it doesn't detract from the film at all except for a few seconds. It's great to be able to see this film as it was originally released for the first time since that original release.

"A Girl's Folly" is a sort of half-comedy, half-mockumentary look at the motion picture business of the mid-1910's. We get a glimpse of life at an early movie studio, where we experience assembly of a set, running through a scene, handling of adoring movie fanatics, even lunch at the commissary. We are also privy to little known cinematic facts - for example, did you know that "Frequently, 'movie' actors do not know the plot of the picture in which they are working"?

The plot of this film in essence is movie star Kenneth Driscoll's discovery and romancing of a budding young starlet whom he discovers while shooting on location in the country. I believe the 30-minute version I watched was abridged, included on the same tape with Cecil B. De Mille's "The Cheat." It is a very credible film - an easy watch with a large cast of extras. As a bonus it includes some of best-illustrated captions I have ever seen accompanying a silent movie.