This is one of the best performances I had ever seen, especially in a silent movie.
Bennett never bulged her eyes, go into hysterical sobs, or fling her arms around like a wild, caged bird. Nonetheless, she was heartbreaking and very effective with her understated (unlike her contemporaries) approach to Marise La Noue.
I completely agree with you. And, the opportunities were definitely available, in the story, for Enid to go "over the top" with her performance, if she had felt so inclined. It's highly commendable that she didn't.
I think the restraint is part of the reason why this movie works so successfully for modern viewing. Also, the make-up job that was done on Enid, when Marise had gone through such hard times, is entirely convincing and absolutely remarkable.
Meanwhile, the restoration of this movie is gorgeous, and the beautiful new score is perfect and fully complimentary (unlike some newly added scores, that I've hated, to TCM silent restorations I've seen).
great movie all together.
----------------------
"Because a steppe is a steppe!"
Enid reminded my of lillian gish,same kind of demure innocence.The movie is tragic and inspiring,racked with frustation and misfortune.Worth Seeing for sure...
shareEnid reminded my of lillian gish,same kind of demure innocence. I totally felt that Ms. Bennett was giving a "what would Lillian Gish do in this role" type of performance, whether that was her idea or the director's who knows. I do have to say unlike everybody else on this thread though I was rather underwhelmed by her work, she was really too old for this part, 31 and playing a teenager. I didn't know who she was while watching it but I knew this was a woman much older than her role and older than her leading man. Yes, she was only six years older than Novarro but he was an extraordinarily youthful 25 (and very believable as someone who had to wait until he was old enough to marry) and she was a pretty but matronly 31 with a middle-aged woman's thick neck not the swanlike thinness of a real ingénue. share
One of the very best performances I've ever seen. Subtle, yet so powerful and heartbreaking.
Animal crackers in my soup
Monkeys and rabbits loop the loop