This picture hails from the old Kodascope Library. The movie was so extraordinarily popular that when I rented the film the original print had long since worn out and had been replaced by a black-and- white reversal with lots of tram lines and other signs of wear. Although I'd hoped for sepia, this beat-up old black-and-white copy, alas, is the print used by Grapevine for their DVD release. You could argue that even a 5/10 copy is preferable than no print at all, but this is the sort of print that gives silent pictures a bad name. Hobart Bosworth with his ridiculous fright wig comes across as an unmitigated ham, while Baby Peggy with her boyishly straight hair and pudgy, irregular features, makes a somewhat unattractive, if talented child. Fortunately, the support cast, led by the lovely Irene Rich, proves more interesting, and Cline's direction makes the most of some effective locations and seascapes. A few of the studio sets (the winding lighthouse stairs) are also compelling, and I loved the picturesque title cards. All told, the movie is reasonably well produced. But as for the sentimental sludge of a story which totally lacks both logic and credibility
Happily, an original Kodascope print has now emerged from Alpha, and in the original dark tints, I'm happy to say that Bosworth's hair now looks perfectly natural. His acting is still a bit on the hammy side, especially in the last reel when his little world collapses, but it's bearable, and little Miss Montgomery is still no menace to Shirley Temple, but the other players have improved a lot. Now that we can see them clearly, we can admire their efforts to bring a bit of realism to the sudsy plot. In fact, in their joint quest for realism, both director Cline and star Bosworth were actually injured during the filming of the storm sequence. Fortunately, they both made a full recovery.
Happily, an original Kodascope print has now emerged from Alpha, and in the original dark tints, I'm happy to say that Bosworth's hair now looks perfectly natural. His acting is still a bit on the hammy side, especially in the last reel when his little world collapses, but it's bearable, and little Miss Montgomery is still no menace to Shirley Temple, but the other players have improved a lot. Now that we can see them clearly, we can admire their efforts to bring a bit of realism to the sudsy plot. In fact, in their joint quest for realism, both director Cline and star Bosworth were actually injured during the filming of the storm sequence. Fortunately, they both made a full recovery.