The Flag: A Story Inspired by the Tradition of Betsy Ross

Interesting color short that is more about General George Washington catching a British officer who has crossed the battle lines to see his wife. She is a guest of Betsy Ross. I thought there would have been more about the flag and who was for or against it. Washington paroles the British officer thus setting the stage for common military action later in World War I.

Short (20 minutes) silent film that gives us the (purportedly) true story of how Betsy Ross (Enid Bennett) came to design and sew the American flag. George Washington (Francis X. Bushman) asks her to design it and she sees some vision in the sunset of a red, white and blue flag. Seriously! There's also a subplot with a friend of hers named Edith Brandon (Alice Calhoun) who's staying with her and her husband Charles (Johnnie Walker) who's deserted the Army to be with her.

From other comments her I guess this takes GREAT liberties with actual historical events. I'm no expert on that so I can't say. As a movie it's OK. The acting is a little overdone (especially Calhoun) and the story is pretty trite even at 20 minutes. Also this was shot in early two strip Technicolor. The colors are sometimes very muted (the night time scenes look like black and white) or other times just leap out at you (Bushman's red coat literally jumps off the TV at you). So the flickering colors and slight storyline make this kind of a chore. Historically though it is interesting in terms of movies. I give it a 7.

Flag, The (1927)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

2-strip Technicolor short from MGM has George Washington (Francis X Bushman) trying to talk Betsy Ross (Enid Bennett) into creating a flag for the country. This was one of several historical shorts MGM made during this period but I believe most of them are now lost. There's nothing overly special about the film but the use of 2-strip Technicolor makes it of interest for film buffs of the silent era. Bushman is pretty good in his role as is Bennett; both of whom have connections to MGM's epic Ben Hur. Bushman of course had a large part in the film but Bennett met and married the director during the making of the film.

Francis X. Bushman is one of those actors who doesn't so much act as he pose dramatically. An example closer to contemporary is Charlton Heston, who - quite the innovator - adds exposing his teeth to his spectrum of talents. I suppose this makes Francis a good choice to act the part of an icon who looks like he has a flagpole secreted up his southern Potomac. It's as though he were expecting to have his portrait painted at any moment.

There are some nice (if laughable) parts to this film: especially the moment in which nature so conveniently aids in Betsy's description of the soon-to-be-released flag design. And the color - although quite faint - has a certain degree of pastel charm, especially when it is the blush upon the pretty cheek of the British soldier's wife. And it is quite funny to see George Washington act the detective and find the hiding place of this soldier by noting that the flag moved! The ensuing speech by Betsy is quite hilarious in its use of metaphor, although unintentionally so.

All in all, quite entertaining if you're drunk, and are looking about for some old-fashioned patriotic drivel to laugh at.

An MGM Short Subject.

General George Washington asks Betsy Ross in 1776 to design & create THE FLAG to be used by the American forces.

MGM does a most commendable job with this little silent film, combining patriotism & romance. Matinee idol Francis X. Bushman has a properly noble bearing as Washington (his career was about to go on the skids for inadvertently angering Louis B. Mayer). Enid Bennett shows enthusiasm in her role as Miss Ross.

A subplot concerns Washington's judicious dealing with a young British couple (Alice Calhoun & Johnnie Walker) harboring in the Ross home. Notice the sensitive way in which the film handles the pregnancy of Miss Calhoun's character.

The early Technicolor is very appealing to the eye, especially in the scene where Miss Ross points to the twilight heavens to explain her inspiration for the new flag.

The film has been restored and given a splendid new score by Vivek Maddala.

Often overlooked or neglected today, the one and two-reel short subjects were useful to the Studios as important training grounds for new or burgeoning talents, both in front & behind the camera. The dynamics for creating a successful short subject was completely different from that of a feature length film, something akin to writing a topnotch short story rather than a novel. Economical to produce in terms of both budget & schedule and capable of portraying a wide range of material, short subjects were the perfect complement to the Studios' feature films.