Societal values have changed, storytelling sensibilities have shifted, film-making techniques have improved, and film-making technology has advanced, and still most silent films stand tall in their own right. Some continue to count among the greatest pictures ever made, and while not all are equal, with rare exception surviving flicks of the earliest years of cinema should at least be treasured as part of our cultural heritage. I don't think it's unfair to say that this 1920 western is not one of the most striking or essential of features, but in fairness, there's no rule that says every feature has to be a revelation. It won't change the minds of anyone who has a hard time engaging with older fare, and even devotees of the era may not find it particularly inspiring, but 'Sand' remains decent enough if you do have the chance to watch.
Less than entirely remarkable though it may be, there's still plenty to enjoy here. Chief character Dan Kurrie is quick-witted and fast on his feet, and the energy of both Kurrie and actor/producer William S. Hart is no small part of the joy that the movie boasts. His co-stars do an admirable job of complementing that spirit, and/or serving as a foil to it, as the narrative unfolds, with Patricia Palmer especially standing out as spunky Josie, and G. Raymond Nye certainly making an impression as officious Garber. We're given duly compelling flavors of crime, drama, romance, comedy, and adventure as Dan arrives in a railroad town to find some familiar faces to greet and trouble to settle. I think filmmaker Lambert Hillyer and co-writer Russell A. Boggs ably balance these varied facets, though I do detect at points that Hillyer has difficulty achieving just the right tone to help the proceedings to land. Even at that, 'Sand' want only to entertain, and I think it capably does just that.
True, the tale could also have been fleshed out more; it does feel in some measure as if we're not getting the full weight of the saga. More detail and nuance in the scene writing and overall narrative, and a more careful hand on the part of Hillyer as director, would have made the title more well-rounded, meaningful, and impactful. Be that as it may the plot is solid and increasingly absorbing, and in all other regards it's well made. Those stunts and effects that come into play are terrific; as we commonly assume of westerns, the filming locations are gorgeous, and the sets and costume design are splendid. I quite like Joseph H. August and Dwight Warren's cinematography, and even the intertitles are penned with some fine wit. No, the film may not be a major must-see, and it falls short of being perfect. If one is amenable to the style of the silent era, however, and of westerns, then there's much to appreciate in these eighty minutes. Overall I believe 'Sand' holds up quite well, even more than can be said for some of its contemporaries; don't necessarily go out of your way for it, but this is a pretty good time if you do come across it.
Less than entirely remarkable though it may be, there's still plenty to enjoy here. Chief character Dan Kurrie is quick-witted and fast on his feet, and the energy of both Kurrie and actor/producer William S. Hart is no small part of the joy that the movie boasts. His co-stars do an admirable job of complementing that spirit, and/or serving as a foil to it, as the narrative unfolds, with Patricia Palmer especially standing out as spunky Josie, and G. Raymond Nye certainly making an impression as officious Garber. We're given duly compelling flavors of crime, drama, romance, comedy, and adventure as Dan arrives in a railroad town to find some familiar faces to greet and trouble to settle. I think filmmaker Lambert Hillyer and co-writer Russell A. Boggs ably balance these varied facets, though I do detect at points that Hillyer has difficulty achieving just the right tone to help the proceedings to land. Even at that, 'Sand' want only to entertain, and I think it capably does just that.
True, the tale could also have been fleshed out more; it does feel in some measure as if we're not getting the full weight of the saga. More detail and nuance in the scene writing and overall narrative, and a more careful hand on the part of Hillyer as director, would have made the title more well-rounded, meaningful, and impactful. Be that as it may the plot is solid and increasingly absorbing, and in all other regards it's well made. Those stunts and effects that come into play are terrific; as we commonly assume of westerns, the filming locations are gorgeous, and the sets and costume design are splendid. I quite like Joseph H. August and Dwight Warren's cinematography, and even the intertitles are penned with some fine wit. No, the film may not be a major must-see, and it falls short of being perfect. If one is amenable to the style of the silent era, however, and of westerns, then there's much to appreciate in these eighty minutes. Overall I believe 'Sand' holds up quite well, even more than can be said for some of its contemporaries; don't necessarily go out of your way for it, but this is a pretty good time if you do come across it.