Very surprised by Borzage's direction here
For one thing, Peter Piper overused a condescending gesture to his girlfriend, namely, the fist tucked up under her chin and, in another buck-up variation, the popular male finger lifting up his "girl's" pretty face.
It didn't seem to suit Piper's character at all.
Not exactly a "far cry" from the Farrell persona of the silents, but not a close facsimile, either.