Plot: What’s it about?
Betty Lou (Clara Bow) works as a simple salesgirl, but she has plans to climb the ladder of success, all the way into the storeowner’s heart. Now some girls might be shy about chasing a man, especially their own boss, but not Betty Lou, who thinks there’s no better use of her charms. Now Betty Lou knows she has a lot of what she calls “it,” or sex appeal, but even with her skills, this won’t be an easy mark to nail. But Cyrus Waltham, Jr. (Antonio Moreno), her boss has plans to attend a dinner at the Hotel Ritz, so Betty Lou gets a date with someone, on the condition that they have to take her there, but little do they know, she just wants a crack at Cyrus. Soon enough, Betty Lou has Cyrus under her powers, but before she can hook him all the way, some problems surface and she is back to square one, once again. Can this spirited young woman who loves the simple things ever charm the sophisticated gentleman, or is she doomed to fail in this mission of love?
I’ve always been a fan of Clara Bow (Dangerous Curves, The Primrose Path), so I am very pleased to own her finest work on this format, complete with a very well made documentary. I’ve followed Bow’s career through what videos I could find, but I have also read a few books on her, as well as cinema on the whole during her career. In terms of charm and good looks, I think few women even in modern times can hold a candle to Bow, who simply shines on the screen. Her persona comes through very well, even in within the limits of silent cinema, which I don’t think would hold true for many modern starlets. This film has a lot of energy and spunk, which I think makes it a lot of fun to watch, even if it slows down at times. It is unusual to see such a sexually aggressive female in films of this time, but Bow is the perfect choice and she works her role to sheer perfection in this motion picture. I recommend this film very highly to those interested in silent cinema, but also to fans of film on the whole and those who want to see one of the sexiest screen stars of all time. This disc includes a great documentary on Bow and in the end, I think this release is well worth the hard earned cash.
Video: How does it look?
It is presented in the intended full frame form. Given the fact that this film was made in 1927, this is a very good visual presentation, but problems still surface here. I am very impressed with the source print, which shows minimal debris and such, but a medium level of damage is still present at times. Not even close to as much as I expected, but still a moderate amount, even if not enough to be concerned over in the end. As far as the image goes though, this picture looks very good and the contrast seems well balanced at times. This is a terrific overall transfer, especially since this is such an old motion picture, very impressive.
Audio: How does it sound?
As you might have guessed, since this is a silent film, there is little audio to discuss. But the included stereo musical score is worth talking about, as it sounds very good here. I had no problems with clarity or volume with this soundtrack, which comes off in very fine form here. The music also goes along with the material pretty well, which is also a vital and important issue. A smooth and fitting musical soundtrack, which is good since this film deserves nothing less in the end.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the 1999 documentary, Clara Bow: Discovering The “It” Girl, which is a real treat to watch. This piece includes all sorts of information on Bow, from her childhood all the way to her film star status, hitting on all the major points along that path. Interviews with friends, followers, and of course, cinema folk are showcased here and while I didn’t care for Courtney Love’s narration, this is still a terrific overall documentary, well worth a look indeed.
