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The Lady Refuses
The Lady Refuses
Actors: Betty Compson, John Darrow, Gilbert Emery, Halliwell Hobbes, Ivan Lebedeff
Director: George Archainbaud
Genres: Drama
NR     2005     1hr 11min

Girlish June (Betty Compson), a sweetly wonton lady of London, is solicited by weatlhy aristocrat Sir Gerald Courney (Gilbert Emmry) to lure his ne'er-do-well son Russell (John Darrow) away from floozy flappers and expensi...  more »

     
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Movie Details

Actors: Betty Compson, John Darrow, Gilbert Emery, Halliwell Hobbes, Ivan Lebedeff
Director: George Archainbaud
Genres: Drama
Sub-Genres: Drama
Studio: Alpha Video
Format: DVD - Black and White - Closed-captioned
DVD Release Date: 01/25/2005
Release Year: 2005
Run Time: 1hr 11min
Screens: Black and White
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Total Copies: 0
Members Wishing: 0
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Languages: English
 

Movie Reviews

FOCUS LACKING IN EARLY TALKIE.
rsoonsa | Lake Isabella, California | 03/29/2005
(2 out of 5 stars)

"Gilbert Emery, as a patrician English peer, Sir Gerald Courtney, dominates this film as he tries to bring his rakehell son Russell (John Darrow) closer to him through a secret strategem involving June (Betty Compson), an economically distressed young woman. To regain Russell's affection, Sir Gerald offers June, whom he has rescued from incipient prostitution, one thousand pounds in this London-based work, for her efforts in dissuading his wayward son from an alliance with a golddigger played by Margaret Livingston. Compson, an accomplished actress during the silent era, does her best to portray a worldly woman given an unexpected beneficence by fate, but she is hampered by a script which is clumsily written with a good deal of dialogue bordering upon gaucherie. After escaping from a pair of zealous bobbies, with assistance from Sir Gerald, June is established by him into an apartment building shared with the unwitting Russell, and is graced as well with a lavish wardrobe at a couturiere's, this latter being probably the picture's most defined moment. June's good works for the salving of Russell are dealt with in some detail, and are obviously largely appreciated by Sir Gerald, but her relationships with both father and son are skimpily sketched and emotional liaisons appear to be rather abruptly developed and severed. Veteran director George Archainbaud seems to have scant vision for whatever niceties the weak scenario might bring, and his handling of the cast and storyline are perfunctory with too many scenes marked by absence of sense; fortunately, the editing is very efficient. Although this affair begins and ends with a tendency towards placing atmosphere above plot, the last unfortunately mars the work; some fine acting turns are somewhat redemptive, particularly those by the always polished Emery and by Halliwell Hobbes as the Courtney family barrister.

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