Moran of the Lady Letty (1922)

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Such a frustrating disappointment

Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Rudolph Valentino's name would not for long be beneath another player's as it is in Moran Of The Lady Letty. Dorothy Dalton is first billed in this film which casts Rudy as a young playboy who gets Shanghaied aboard a modern day pirate ship skippered by Walter Long.He's quite the pampered one Rudy is, but some experience with this crew and their evil skipper is enough to toughen anyone up. Later on sound successors to the Valentino image like Robert Taylor and Tyrone Power both of whom did sound remakes of Valentino roles were also deliberately given action material like this to broaden their appeal.Even without sound Valentino's charisma comes through over 90 years after this film was released. Walter Long who played many a brutish, thuggish villainous role is at his best doing his thing in this film.Moran Of The Lady Letty is a good introduction to the films of and the legend that was Rudolph Valentino.

I welcome any opportunity to see Valentino, and "Moran of the Lady Letty" from 1922 is Valentino in action, aimed at getting the men interested in him as well as women.Based on a play, the story concerns a wealthy young playboy, Ramon, with no purpose in life who is shanghaied and put into service on a ship of smugglers. Life on the sea and working turns out to be a good and enjoyable thing for Ramon. One day, the crew sees a boat that has suffered a coal fire and looks empty, so the men climb aboard to steal what they can. They find one crew member alive, who turns out to be a woman, Moran Letty (Dorothy Dalton), the daughter of the burned ship's captain. Ramon protects her from the evil captain (Charles Brinley) and falls in love with her.Differences in class were the major topic of stories, plays, etc. in the '20s into the early '30s. This is no exception. Seen today, the facial expressions are big and obvious, and the dialogue cards are open to a different interpretation nowadays - Letty has no use for men, doesn't like them, and wished she had been born a man! Dorothy Dalton is exotic-looking and good as Letty, and Valentino is very handsome and effective as Ramon. The film is loaded with stereotypes, including the likable character Chopstick Charlie, played by Japanese actor George Kuwa.This is all to be expected in an 88-year-old film. We only have a fraction of silent films available when you look at what has been made versus what has been lost. It's not the greatest Valentino film, but don't pass this up if you have a chance to see it.

In a Norwegian port, Dorothy Dalton (as Moran Sternersen aka "Moran of the Lady Letty") sets sail for San Francisco. "Born on the deep end and rocked to sleep by storms," Ms. Dalton, "came of a long line of sea-faring men." Dalton knows her way around a ship. Her father, Charles Brinley (as Eilert Sternersen) is her Captain; he loves only his ship, and his motherless daughter. Meanwhile, Rudolph Valentino (as Ramon Laredo aka "Lillee of the Vallee") misses a yacht bound for the same city. "Cradled in luxury," Mr. Valentino, "came to earth, heir to the aimless life of a rich man's son." Seeking other means of transport, Valentino is shanghaied on a ship of smugglers, captained by Walter Long (as "Frisco" Kitchell). He becomes quite taken with the adventure.When Dalton's ship, the "Lady Letty", is felled by a cargo fire, Valentino rescues Dalton, and the unlikely duo fall in love. Although Valentino has become an accepted shipmate, a confrontation with the villainous Mr. Long becomes increasingly likely; especially, as Long lusts after Dalton."Moran of the Lady Letty" effectively contrasts Dalton's masculinity (her character is the "tomboy") with Valentino's femininity (his character is the "sissy"); and, they have a comfortable on-screen chemistry. As an actor, Valentino was often burdened by star persona; but, here, he is refreshingly natural. Although she is not relatively well-remembered, this was a good role for star Dalton. Villain Long, a great character actor, has one of his better parts. And, George Melford directed very effectively; the film's ending fight, between Valentino and Long, is a thriller. Before that, pay attention for the culmination of Long's shipping mission - when partner Cecil Holland (as Pancho) sees Long's boat arriving, he tells a wench, "Go on - get cleaned up!" ******* Moran of the Lady Letty (2/5/22) George Melford ~ Dorothy Dalton, Rudolph Valentino, Walter Long

I liked this Rudolph Valentino movie. Perhaps this was because unlike his usual "latin lover" persona, this film features him as a rich guy who becomes an action hero! Hardly what you'd expect from this actor.The film begins with Valentino at a high-class party. He's rich and bored with the lifestyle--longing for something different. Well, his wish is unexpectedly granted when he is shanghaied aboard a rough and tumble ship skippered by tough-guy, Walter Long. Despite his background, it seems that Rudy is a natural seaman and takes to the life of a sailor.Later, they happen upon a derelict ship that is smoldering. It seems that the crew abandoned the ship and refused to try to save her despite pleadings from the ships' captain's daughter, Moran. When Walter Long and his crew board this stricken ship, Moran is the only one left alive. Rudy is warned NOT to let Long know the person rescued was a woman, as Walter is anything but a gentleman! In fact, at one point he seems poised to rape her and at another he tries to sell to to a band of bandits! In fact, Long is such a dirt bag that he plans not only to sell her, but murder his crew and replace them with bandits! Well, the crew discovers this and Rudy leads them in defending the ship. The marauders are killed, but no one on board knows that Walter Long slipped back aboard during the mêlée. Later, when the ship reaches home, Rudy goes to see his old friends. Moran and the crew think he's gone for good to resume life in high society, but he returns in time to see Long trying to molest Moran. In a climatic fight, Long gets whipped and Rudy gets the girl! Hooray! I liked this film because so much story was stuffed into the film and there was little room left for extreme sentimentality or schmaltz. It tells the story briskly and well--something not found in many silent films. For the genre (silent action/adventure films), this is a very good example.