At the time, the famous director was neither famous nor even a director. He was a learning the trade by getting experience in every aspect of the picture making business. The star of the film, the one mentioned in the papers, the very reason for the film's existence was Betty Compson.
Michael Balcon |
In an interview for a French magazine, October 24, 1924, British actress Marjorie Hume explains that very few British movies cross the Atlantic, or even the Channel for that matter, but that producers found a way to ensure an international career to their films: hiring famous American stars.
Betty Compson |
Publicity shot of Betty Compson at home. |
Islington Studios |
Woman to Woman tells the story of David Compton (played by British star Clive Brook), a British army engineer who goes to war in 1914 and leaves his pregnant French mistress Louise Boucher (Betty Compson) behind. She, a dancer at the Moulin Rouge (masterfully recreated by art director Alfred Hitchcock), eventually thinks him dead when he fails to return and brings up her child as a single mother. She gains success as a dancer and becomes known as Deloryse. Though as her fame increases, her health declines. Meanwhile, David is not dead but has completely lost his memory in the battle. He now has a new name (David Anson-Prod) and a new wife!
Alfred Hitchcock's set of the Moulin Rouge |
One day, by chance, he goes to the Moulin Rouge and when he sees Deloryse, remembers all. Upon learning that her long lost love is alive and married to another woman, Deloryse feels her already ailing health abandoning her. She entrusts David's new wife with her own son and goes out to keep what will be her last dancing engagement: she dies in the middle of the stage.
Deloryse dies on stage. |
Betty Compson & Betty Compson in The White Shadow |
As I said, of the second film remains the first 40 minutes and you can buy it on DVD. Of the first, more successful one, remains only a handful of stills, some of which can be seen on this website.
However, the success of the film spurred a 1929 talkie remake, directed by Victor Saville himself, also with Betty Compson, available on DVD from Grapevine.
Don't forget to click "like" on the Facebook page for more.
That's all for today, folks!
No comments:
New comments are not allowed.