Along Came Youth

IMDB says that reel #5 and part of the rest of the film are supposedly lost...but there is a complete copy on YouTube. Oddly, it has a running time stamp on it that you cannot eliminate...otherwise, it's all there and a nice looking print.*

So, although it's not lost, is it a film you'd just as well hope to be lost? In other words, is it worth your time to see this old movie?

The story begins with Larry and Ambrose (Buddy Rogers and Stu Erwin) in London...broke after bringing their horse there to compete. Now, they are dressed in tuxedos...walking the street advertising for the suits. But a young woman meets Larry and doesn't realize he's poor...assuming by his clothes he's rich. This is a plus, as her mother insists she must marry a rich guy...whether she loves him or not! Is this destined to be or not? And, what about their race horse?

This is an odd film in that it isn't sure if it's a romance or a comedy...and, as a result, it doesn't quite hit either mark. The comedy is generally unfunny and the romance is hindered because Larry is such a liar...which hardly is romantic! Overall, an okay film which ISN'T lost.

*I don't think this was a mistake so much as a sign of the times. In recent years, all sorts of 'lost films' have been rediscovered or pieced together thanks to the internet. In other words, one collector or archive might have a part of the film and some other collectors or archives have the rest and they piece it together. Or, in the case of the Vitaphone shorts, the original sound (on a record) and the film have been combined by various collectors around the world because too often they've been separated.

This supposedly "lost film" is definitely not lost, although sources say only a partial nitrate print exists in the UCLA archives. Charles "Buddy" Rogers stars as a young American in London. Once a millionaire, he's lost everything due to losing his racehorse and the efforts of a gangster. Working as a waiter, he falls for a lovely young girl who's aunt wants her to marry wealth (as they are down to "enough for just one more season"). Then it's boy chases girl as he tries to get a riding job for the big cross country race. The film also benefits from a nice performance by Frances Dee, a lovely actress who graced some early Paramount treasures. Bob Connors

Charles 'Buddy Rogers' is stranded in London because the string of racehorses he brought from America have busted him in losing races. He and pal Stu Erwin are are trying to raise enough money to get back home with his one remaining horse by taking every job that comes along. Meanwhile, Frances Dee and her erratic Midatlantic accent is being pressured by her aunt Evelyn Hall to marry any millionaire so the family home can be restored. They meet while Mis Dee is fleeing from the latest horrid millionaire and Rogers is wearing elegant clothes to advertise a tailor. They fall in love, although neither mentions it at this point. Miss Dee returns to the country. Rogers and Erwin are hired as a cook by Spanish Leo White, who has just bought the house next to Miss Hall's. Through the usual misconstructions and unspoken lies, Rogers is believed to be the owner. Will the two youngsters confess their love? Will White turn up at the worst moment? Will Rogers win the race, the sizable purse and Miss Dee?

What do you think? The visuals of this movie, which previously made it unwatchable for all but the most dedicated, are now excellent; thanks to a fine restoration job by the Sabucat team. It's available on DCP for any venue that wishes to rent it and show off the fine camerawork of the now forgotten cinematographer, Henry Gerrard. The gags, under the direction of Lloyd Corrigan and Norman McLeod are excellent, and the performances are mostly very good (although I don't care much for Erwin's comic persona). The big problem is Rogers' delivery of his lines; he has not, as yet, adapted to sound. Still, there are some excellent comic performances among the cast, which also includes William Austen and Betty Boyd.