|
| • Advanced Search • Help |
Male and Female | Year: 1919 Classification: Drama Directed: - Cecil B. DeMille extraordinary silent film This film is a masterpiece that gives you the feel of the time and place of the story line. Gloria Swanson is definitely a superb, passionate, and glamorous actress in the film. The picture quality is very clear and the orchestra sound added makes this movie a time capsule for years to come. This film, without a doubt, is one of gloria swanson's finest moments along with her other films "Sadie Thompson" and "Sunset Boulevard." I strongly recommend this film to those who appreciate a brillant silent film. better than most newer movies Saw it first on AMC Silent Sundays and loved it. An interesting look at a simpler and slower time. Interesting commentary on class and man's nature. At times, it got a little slow but the great thing about silent films is that in those days the director's challenge was to evoke emotion from the audience through action: the protanganist reacting to note just handed to him, the spying over the shoulder or the reactions to other actors. "I was a King of Bablyon and you were a Christian slave." I own it. Class distinctions fall apart on DeMille's desert island Cecil B. DeMille's 1919 film "Male and Female" is certainly representative of the director's silent work. Based on James M. Barrie's "The Admirable Chrichton," the film provides half-naked women in a story that constitutes social commentary. The story here finds Gloria Swanson as Lady Mary Lasenby, a snobbish socialite who is shipwrecked upon a desert island with her but fiance Lord Brockelhurst (Robert Cain), her butler Crichton (Thomas Meighan), and her scullery maid Tweeny (Lila Lee). The class distinctions that existed on the yacht of Lord Loam (Theodore Roberts) quickly fall apart as the group tries to survive and Lady Mary falls in love. DeMille, not content with showing Swanson swimming half-naked, contrives one of his celebrated flashbacks where Crichton becomes the King of Babylon and Swanson is the Christian slave girl that he must tame. I always thought that Babylon was long gone by the time of Christianity, but who am I to argue with DeMille? The pagan spectacle is diverting, especially the bit with the peacock headdress. What amazes me is how DeMille ties it into the present day narrative: because the King tames the slave girl she curses him so that in future lives he will be her servant. However, when they achieve equality in the "present," the two lovers are shown at the end in their ancient bodies, with Swanson sitting content at the throne of her man. I am sure we have all seen some variation on this storyline at some point, but with "Male and Female" we must have the oldest version of the tale still preserved on film. This is one of those silent classics where night scenes are tinted blue and the flashbacks appear golden. This is the film that made Gloria Swanson a star and you can certainly see why. Every time I see "Sunset Blvd." from now on, when DeMille talks about when Norma Desmond was a star, this is the film I will recall in my mind's eye. Buy Male And Female at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Male And Female Search with the Priority Search Engine on Male And Female This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
|
