American Tradition
It starts out like a war picture. Hessian soldiers are conscripted to fight in America beside the British. Francis Lederer is a college student who can speak English and becomes a translator, before deserting to join the American side once here.
Upon meeting Joan Bennett he is smitten and the picture abruptly becomes a light comedy. It is clearly a vehicle for Lederer who had just become Paramount's newest star. He is in nearly every scene, cheerful, appealing and smiling relentlessly.
We find out about Bundling, a colonial courting custom allowing couples to sit in bed to converse, read to one another, etc., and with a 9 inch wooden board between them to ward off any impure spirits. It's a very entertaining story and was adapted from the Broadway stage to the big screen.
See it if you can, it's surprisingly good. I saw it at Capitolfest, Rome, NY. 8/14/21.
*******7/10 - Website no longer prints my star rating.
Upon meeting Joan Bennett he is smitten and the picture abruptly becomes a light comedy. It is clearly a vehicle for Lederer who had just become Paramount's newest star. He is in nearly every scene, cheerful, appealing and smiling relentlessly.
We find out about Bundling, a colonial courting custom allowing couples to sit in bed to converse, read to one another, etc., and with a 9 inch wooden board between them to ward off any impure spirits. It's a very entertaining story and was adapted from the Broadway stage to the big screen.
See it if you can, it's surprisingly good. I saw it at Capitolfest, Rome, NY. 8/14/21.
*******7/10 - Website no longer prints my star rating.
- GManfred
- Aug 20, 2021