Say It with Diamonds

Say It with Diamonds (1927) is a fun marital comedy mix-up starring the great Betty Compson as a wife who suspects her husband (Earle Williams) is cheating on her because of a mix-up in gifts.

He's bought her a Spanish comb studded with diamonds but when playboy Armand (Armand Kaliz) explains that Betty has bobbed hair and the comb won't work, he buys it off Williams to give to HIS girlfriend (Jocelyn Lee). Unfortunately Betty has already seen the comb. So when Williams presents her with a "tiara" she thinks something's up. And when they all meet in a restaurant and Lee is wearing the comb, she's REALLY suspecting something is up.

The mix-up goes on from there. Compson and Lee are just plain stunning in this film, dressed in the latest flapper fashions and showing off their legs. Kaliz is surprisingly funny as the playboy who gets trapped in his own trap. Williams (in his last role) has the boring part of the dull husband.

Picked this up on a Kickstarter. The usual story of a woman who suspects her husband of being unfaithful, and his philandering friend who tries to steal her heart (despite having a number of other girlfriends). As is standard, everything works out in the end and the happy couple retire (to their narrow single beds!).

The ladies all look beautiful in their sparkly outfits, apart from wearing dead animals round their necks, the sets are lavish (despite making the ceilings appear around 60ft high), and everyone acts slightly over the top, as you would expect for a silent comedy. The only problem with a silent comedy of this type is when they rely on written jokes, which don't really work to more modern audiences used to snappy verbal repartee. Still, there are some good lines and the visual comedy more than makes up for it.

Joe Harvat has restored this movie for home recording from Library of Congress material.

Earle Williams has bought wife Betty Compson a diamond-encrusted comb for her birthday. She spot it hidden in his office. But pinkie-ring wearing Armand Kalish points out Miss Compson has bobbed hair, so he buys it off Williams and gives it to his petite amie, Jocelyn Lee. Miss Compson is pleased with the diamond tiara Williams has substituted, but she admits she saw the comb; he says he sold it to a pal. But when Miss Compson spots the comb on Miss Lee, she assumes Williams gave it to her for *ahem* services rendered, and we're off.

Once you get past the rather feeble set-up -- everything could have been short-circuited had Earle Williams said "Yes, I bought you a comb, but I realized you had bobbed hair, so I sold it to Armand Kaliz and bought you this". Of course that would have resulted in a rather dull single-reel movie, so we're left with people who don't trust anyone. While the gags are good -- I was particularly taken with Miss Compson getting comfortably into an icebox -- I didn't think much of the titles, which forced themselves in an attempt to be witty.

On the plus side, Joe Harvat's restoration is nearly flawless, and David Drazin accompanies with a quirky jazz score. While this movie is not a great one, it is a worthwhile addition to those of us who love Betty Compson, and a fine example of the sort of comedy that kept theaters open on weekdays, back in the day.