La lanterne rouge

The Boxer Rebellion of 1901 provides a dramatic backdrop for this lavish vehicle for Alla Nazimova. Ms Nazimova is as ever a handsome and imposing presence, showcased against the backdrop of a handsome and imposing but sadly uninvolving production; much of it unfortunately directed as on a proscenium by Albert Capellani, who should have told his leading lady to go easy on the "silent movie" gestures with her hands had he wielded sufficient clout on the set.

Alla Nazimova stars in a dual role, as the half-Chinese, half-Occidental natural daughter of Frank Currier, and his legitimate daughter. It all takes place in Peking during the Boxer Rebellion, and Miss Nazimova, rejected by the westerners, joins the Boxers, led by the likewise mixed-race Noah Beery.

It's a lavishly produced movie, with a great crowd scene, and the copy I looked at was nicely done: almost every scene tinted, and one or two toning effects. The camerawork by Eugene and Tony Gaudio was typical of the era, with lots of cuts to make up for the lack of a moving camera. Miss Nazimova attempts to diffferentiate her characters by make-up, wigs, and moving in different manners, which serves to make them look nothing alike.

The credits list Reginald Denny and Anna May Wong -- the latter in her screen debut -- but as usual I couldn't spot them.

I'm not a particular fan of silent movies. I only watch parts of it and get tired of it. This one had me interested throughout the movie. I liked the overacting, big gestures and big eye movements. Also the story about mixed races and relatable themes are today still relevant. I liked it, you can watch this and not have waisted an hour of your life.