If you've ever seen the movie poster for After Midnight, you look at it and think, 'WOW! What a great film this must be!' - Unfortunately it's not. It's a somewhat mediocre melodrama, typical of MGM in the 20's. Norma Shearer looks glamorous and lovely as always and carries the picture, but she was capable of much more.
The print that I viewed is missing it's original title cards and is of very contrasty quality. Hopefully TCM has a better print in their vaults. While a lot of stars like Lon Chaney and Greta Garbo get a lot of time and effort put into restoring their silent films, some of the less exotic stars like Norma Shearer get lost in the shuffle. It would be nice to see TCM do a retrospective on Norma, who was, for a very long time, the "First Lady" of MGM. Several of her silent era films still exist along with the wonderful early talkies that she made in the 1930's.
After Midnight does not give a clear picture of Shearer's talent, so I would not advise this film for someone new to her or to silent films, however it is worth seeing, even if it is nothing exceptional.
The print that I viewed is missing it's original title cards and is of very contrasty quality. Hopefully TCM has a better print in their vaults. While a lot of stars like Lon Chaney and Greta Garbo get a lot of time and effort put into restoring their silent films, some of the less exotic stars like Norma Shearer get lost in the shuffle. It would be nice to see TCM do a retrospective on Norma, who was, for a very long time, the "First Lady" of MGM. Several of her silent era films still exist along with the wonderful early talkies that she made in the 1930's.
After Midnight does not give a clear picture of Shearer's talent, so I would not advise this film for someone new to her or to silent films, however it is worth seeing, even if it is nothing exceptional.