A sentimental story that sits a little uneasily on its young hero, Frank Coghlan, Jr., but is right up the alley of Louis Wolheim who has a great time as the hero who doesn't want to be a hero, but is one anyway. Only an actor with Wolheim's powerful presence and innate charisma could get away with a story like this, let alone manage it without the benefit of his powerful voice. Yes, this is actually a silent movie, filmed at sound speed with a musical score and sound effects, but no spoken dialogue at all. The young players led by Frank Coghlan, Jr., Anita Louise and Philippe De Lacy also rise nobly to the challenge, while director E. Mason Hopper steers the movie most skillfully through scenes of drama, comedy and even a winsome touch of romance. The music score provided by Josiah Zuro certainly helps. (I don't know where IMDb gets the idea that Mr. Josiah Zuro is uncredited. In fact Mr. Zuro receives a credit that is at least three or four times the size of everyone else's, including that for producer, Paul Bern, as well as director, E. Mason Hopper). Available on an excellent Grapevine DVD.
Review of Square Shoulders
