Bardelys le magnifique

John Gilbert and Elenor Boardman make a beautiful pair, and their scene at the lake, boating under willow trees, is romantic and rather steamy for 1926. That scene alone makes the film worth watching, and it's fun to see the dashing Gilbert later make a great escape, scramble up a castle, and engage in sword fights that may remind you of Errol Flynn a decade later. Gilbert seems underrated today given how popular he was in the 1920's, and his personal story - clashing with studio head Louis B. Mayer over his high salary ($250,000 for each of six films), his near marriage to Greta Garbo in what would have been a double ceremony with Boardman and director King Vidor, etc - is fascinating. While the film has its moments, it also trundles along at a slow pace, and the plot is rather mundane, so keep your expectations grounded.