I think this film showed that Griffith needed good players to put his films across. Originally "The Girl Who Stayed at Home" was supposed to star the Gish sisters fresh from their triumphs in "Hearts of the World", but Lillian was tired so Carol Dempster was given her part and Dorothy had started a series of comedies at Paramount Artcraft so Clarine Seymour was substituted. Clarine gave this film pizazz and was definitely the discovery of the year. Clarine had been busy at Pathe in their Toto the Clown series. She wasn't happy there and when Toto left owing one film - a young comic, Stan Laurel took his place - Griffith saw her and the rest is history. Clarine may have progressed quicker with Griffith but he was besotted with Carol Dempster - even if no one else was. In her short career, Clarine never received a bad review and "The Girl Who Stayed at Home" was no exception.
Mr. France has made his home in France rather than surrender to the Northern States in the Civil War. He resides in a château with his grand-daughter, Acoline, (Carol Dempster) and when a school chum and her family visit, she finds she is the object of affection from her friend's brother Ralph Grey (Richard Barthelmess). She is already engaged though and Ralph is crestfallen. In 1914 she visits her American friend and meets Ralph's brother, Jim "the Oily Peril" (Bobby Harron) - a lounge lizard (who walks in a very odd way)!! Some of Griffith's titles were quaint and old fashioned for the time. There are some snide references to Germany - a thug - "half drunk and half German" challenges Jim to a fight but Jim cowardly backs down. Later on the same German is called up but tears up his slip. The film was originally planned as another "propaganda" piece but when it was completed the War was over so I think a couple of scenes were inserted showing a good German soldier - one who loves his mother and saves Acoline from a fate worse than death.
War is declared and conveniently her fiancée dies. America enters the War and both brothers wish to enlist. Enter Clarine Seymour as Cutie Beautiful - the film's highpoint - at least she's an actress who knows how to act!! She plays a showgirl who is full of pep!! While Ralph runs away to join up, Jim is kept busy at his father's shipyard and begins to realise the fruitlessness of his work when the world is at war. To me, Robert Harron is the real star of the film and excellently shows the change from shallow man about town to a soldier facing the realities of War. He joins the Army, Cutie gives him a farewell dinner and he proclaims he will come back a different man. Cutie confesses her flirtations - as does Jim and together they put their trust in one another.
There are some wonderful battle scenes, that would have been stirring and exciting to the movie going public in any year but 1919. People were battle weary and sick of movies with war themes. In a homecoming scene, very distantly reminiscent of "Birth of a Nation", Atoline reunites with Ralph and Cutie tries her hardest and manages to stay faithful to a healthier looking Jim, who embraces her with a new found strength at the film's close.
I agree with the other reviewers, there is a bit of a problem when the co-stars far out shine the main stars. Richard Bartelmess didn't have much of a part. Carol Dempster, quite unattractive and with amateur acting skills was out of her depth, although at only 17 she was very young. From her first scene you could almost see her taking direction - there was a scene at a party where she is giving an odd dancing demonstration - even though she had started out as a dancer, it was almost painful to watch. As this was one of her first films she may have matured as an actress later on.
Recommended.
Mr. France has made his home in France rather than surrender to the Northern States in the Civil War. He resides in a château with his grand-daughter, Acoline, (Carol Dempster) and when a school chum and her family visit, she finds she is the object of affection from her friend's brother Ralph Grey (Richard Barthelmess). She is already engaged though and Ralph is crestfallen. In 1914 she visits her American friend and meets Ralph's brother, Jim "the Oily Peril" (Bobby Harron) - a lounge lizard (who walks in a very odd way)!! Some of Griffith's titles were quaint and old fashioned for the time. There are some snide references to Germany - a thug - "half drunk and half German" challenges Jim to a fight but Jim cowardly backs down. Later on the same German is called up but tears up his slip. The film was originally planned as another "propaganda" piece but when it was completed the War was over so I think a couple of scenes were inserted showing a good German soldier - one who loves his mother and saves Acoline from a fate worse than death.
War is declared and conveniently her fiancée dies. America enters the War and both brothers wish to enlist. Enter Clarine Seymour as Cutie Beautiful - the film's highpoint - at least she's an actress who knows how to act!! She plays a showgirl who is full of pep!! While Ralph runs away to join up, Jim is kept busy at his father's shipyard and begins to realise the fruitlessness of his work when the world is at war. To me, Robert Harron is the real star of the film and excellently shows the change from shallow man about town to a soldier facing the realities of War. He joins the Army, Cutie gives him a farewell dinner and he proclaims he will come back a different man. Cutie confesses her flirtations - as does Jim and together they put their trust in one another.
There are some wonderful battle scenes, that would have been stirring and exciting to the movie going public in any year but 1919. People were battle weary and sick of movies with war themes. In a homecoming scene, very distantly reminiscent of "Birth of a Nation", Atoline reunites with Ralph and Cutie tries her hardest and manages to stay faithful to a healthier looking Jim, who embraces her with a new found strength at the film's close.
I agree with the other reviewers, there is a bit of a problem when the co-stars far out shine the main stars. Richard Bartelmess didn't have much of a part. Carol Dempster, quite unattractive and with amateur acting skills was out of her depth, although at only 17 she was very young. From her first scene you could almost see her taking direction - there was a scene at a party where she is giving an odd dancing demonstration - even though she had started out as a dancer, it was almost painful to watch. As this was one of her first films she may have matured as an actress later on.
Recommended.