I thought this was a hoot
The story of Way Down East is essentially a Victorian melodrama of a young woman deceived by a wealthy rascal who gets her pregnant and abandons hers. The baby dies and in her disgrace, she is soon out on the roads looking for work. She finds a position as a servant girl on a farm and fall in love with the son of the farm's owner. But one winter night when her secret past is revealed the owner opens the door and points her in the direction of a cold wintry storm. She tries to cross the river as the ice is breaking up and the son tries to save her.
I really have little patience for silent films but I'd always heard of D W Griffiths classic masterpiece, Way Down East 1920 and seen parts of it too. But a couple weeks ago it was on and I was caught up in it all the way through.
This film, made after the 1934 Code picks up almost in the middle of the story. Cut from the 1935 version is the portion of the story where the heroine is deceived by the rich man and has his child. In this version we first see the heroine when she is looking for a job, in this version, at this point we know nothing of her past. They refer to "it" later in the film but not many details.
What I liked about this film were all the over the top stereotype supporting characters. They were a hoot, especially Margaret Hamilton. Here she is the busiest busybody you ever saw and she is over the top I guess but so fun to watch. Also Slim Summerville, Andy Devine, some guy with rumatizm, lots of colorful rube types I found very entertaining. The big climax on the ice flow isn't as good as Griffiths. The film isn't as good as Griffiths film but I enjoyed it for what it is, a charming relic from the past.