Wild Oranges (1924)
*** (out of 4)
Highly entertaining thriller about a man (Frank Mayo) who leaves society after his new bride is killed in a freak carriage accident. The man takes off on his ship with his second hand (Ford Sterling) and they eventually run into a small island where a young woman (Virginia Valli) lives with her grandfather. The man and young woman quickly fall in love but a crazed convict (Charles A. Post) isn't going to let them live in peace. This isn't a masterpiece but it is a highly entertaining little gem that features some great direction by Vidor. His direction is really what makes the film because it's so laid back that you can't help but feel like you're actually on this peaceful island. There's an isolated atmosphere running throughout the movie that really puts her right there in the action and it's this laid back feeling that works so well once the psychopath starts to take his revenge on the woman who rejected him. There are many suspenseful scenes with one of the best coming early one when the convict threatens to feed the girl to some alligators if she doesn't kiss him. The scene involves real and fake alligators but it's very well done. The final ten minutes is one long fight sequence, which is directed wonderfully well. The scene goes on and on but it's exciting and extremely well drawn out as it starts in one room, hits several others and then goes to a few new locations outside the house. The performances aren't as strong as one would hope but they're good enough to carry the film.
*** (out of 4)
Highly entertaining thriller about a man (Frank Mayo) who leaves society after his new bride is killed in a freak carriage accident. The man takes off on his ship with his second hand (Ford Sterling) and they eventually run into a small island where a young woman (Virginia Valli) lives with her grandfather. The man and young woman quickly fall in love but a crazed convict (Charles A. Post) isn't going to let them live in peace. This isn't a masterpiece but it is a highly entertaining little gem that features some great direction by Vidor. His direction is really what makes the film because it's so laid back that you can't help but feel like you're actually on this peaceful island. There's an isolated atmosphere running throughout the movie that really puts her right there in the action and it's this laid back feeling that works so well once the psychopath starts to take his revenge on the woman who rejected him. There are many suspenseful scenes with one of the best coming early one when the convict threatens to feed the girl to some alligators if she doesn't kiss him. The scene involves real and fake alligators but it's very well done. The final ten minutes is one long fight sequence, which is directed wonderfully well. The scene goes on and on but it's exciting and extremely well drawn out as it starts in one room, hits several others and then goes to a few new locations outside the house. The performances aren't as strong as one would hope but they're good enough to carry the film.