Linda

... and nobody went to jail. Linda, (Helen Foster) who is obviously a minor, marries Decker (Noah Beery), who apparently doesn't care how old she is, in a backwoods ceremony. No laws concerning minors are in evidence in these parts. She is from a home run by a domineering father and there is no room for love and happiness. By a stroke of luck, Decker worships her and treats her right, but she has met Warner Baxter and feels for him in a way unlike her feeling for Decker. She runs away and leaves Decker for a big city, for an education cut short by her marriage, and, you won't guess, but her teacher is a friend to the kindly doctor (Baxter).

There is too much artifice and contrivance in the story and it is a pedestrian drama to begin with. No new ground is broken as it is a ponderous, somewhat familiar tale. For our intents and purposes it is overrated despite the above reviews. A saving grace, though, is a remarkably sensitive performance by Noah Beery as Linda's adoring husband. The end of the picture can only be described as a typically 'Hollywood' ending. A note of interest; Bess Flowers plays Linda's teacher. As far as is known, she is number one in Hollywood with 881 film credits, but on many of them she is listed as 'party guest' or a similar label. "Linda" played at Capitolfest, Rome N.Y., 8/12/16.

Siskel Theater in Chicago is showcasing Women Directors this month - I was completely taken with the story, the acting and the filmmaking particularly - seemed so much more natural than other films of this era. The scenes set in "the big City" are breathtaking for the clothes the women are wearing - you couldn't ask for a better example of the styles of the day - particularly if you are a costumer looking for inspiration. Loved seeing Noah Berry as, while he SO resembles his brother, I've rarely seem in any film. A young Warner Baxter was delightful too. 73 minutes of a pretty compelling story, such as stories were on those days! Bravo Mrs. Reid!