The Red Lily (1924)

Director:

Fred Niblo

Writers:

Fred Niblo (story)
Bess Meredyth (scenarist)

Release Date:

8 September 1924 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

This Picture Will Thrill and Fascinate You.

Plot:

Two young lovers escape their past lives to Paris until fate separates them.

Plot Keywords:

Escape | Childhood Sweetheart | Prayer | Prostitute | Loss Of Father

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Nov. 23

12:00 AM

TCM

Cast

Ramon Novarro	...	Jean Leonnec
Enid Bennett	...	Marise La Noue
Frank Currier	...	Hugo Leonnec
Mitchell Lewis	...	D'Agut
Rosita Marstini	...	Madame Charpied (as Risita Marstini)
Sidney Franklin	...	M. Charpied - Her Husband
Wallace Beery	...	Bo-Bo
George Nichols	...	Concierge
Emily Fitzroy	...	Mama Bouchard
George Periolat	...	Papa Bouchard
Rosemary Theby	...	Nana
Milla Davenport	...	Madame Poussot
Gibson Gowland	...	Le Turc
Dick Sutherland	...	The Toad

Runtime:

81 min (2005 alternate version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The IMDb credited cast list is based on the 2005 alternate version. That print's credits, however, may have been modified to include Rosita Marstini and Sidney Franklin, both of whom were omitted in the published cast list in The New York Times review of 29 September 1924.

Excellent silent tragedy

Two young people Jean (Ramon Novarro) and Marise (Enid Bennett) are in love but too young to marry. They go to Paris hoping to get married there. While in Paris they both get separated. Jean becomes a hardened criminal hunted by the police. Marise becomes drug addicted and a prostitute (implied). Will they ever see each other and what will become of them?

This seems to have been a lost film until TCM showed it a few days ago. It's beautifully restored with a tinted print and a brand new (and quite impressive) music score. The acting and direction are excellent. Novarro is just stunning--a very beautiful man and quite an actor. It's easy to see why he was so popular in his day. Bennett is likewise beautiful and ALMOST as good as Novarro (she was a little too goody-goody for me at the beginning). When the two of their lives fall apart it's incredible. They don't just act different, they LOOK different (Bennett especially). It's really heartbreaking to see what happens to these two innocent kids. I missed the very end (it ran longer than TCM had listed) but my guess is that it wasn't happy!

A very impressive silent film. Well worth catching.