William A. Wellman is probably the most amazing director I did not know before setting out on my quest to become a movie aficionado. I have so far watched twelve of his films and liked every single one of them. Of these, 'Beggars of Life' is one of the best. In many ways it is a typical Wellman: It combines aspects of psychological drama with action and leads to a surprising ending. It is also a historically highly interesting portrait of the life of homeless people in the US in the years before the Great Depression - a time when for the majority of the population living standards were improving quickly. 'Beggars of Life' follows a young homeless man (Richard Arlen) who takes a girl (Nancy, played by Louise Brooks) under his wing (the girl has killed a man who had adopted her from an orphanage, only to sexually exploit her). Now, the two of them join a gang of hobos where Nancy is threatened with the same fate. The acting is wonderful. Brooks plays her role in the understated way typical of her (contemporary critics used to overacting on silent film felt she was not acting at all), and Arlen is excellent. One of the big roles is played by Wallace Beery (Oklahoma Red, a hobo leader) whose combination of threatening good humour and compassion is unique. The film moves quickly and offers a lot of suspense, mounting to a dramatic finale. All in all, this is one of the best 1920s pictures I have watched so far.
Review of Beggars of Life
