The Red Mill (1927)

An Exercise In Nonsense

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

This silent takes place in Holland (for some reason). Tina (Marion Davies) is a maid at the Red Mill. Her boss treats her like dirt, she's lonely and has no friends. One day she meets hunky Dennis Wheat (Owen Moore) and falls in love. Naturally he barely knows she exists. It all comes to a head a few months later.This movie is, to put it mildly, way too plot heavy. The main plot goes all over the place and brings in some wildly improbable turns. There's tons of unfunny slapstick (the part where Davies struggles to put up an ironing board was especially painful to watch) and the movie wavers uncomfortably between romance, comedy and drama. It's well-done and well-directed and the acting helps--Davies is beautiful and full of life and Moore is unbelievably handsome and hunky. But, all in all, I was bored and couldn't wait for it to end. I give this a 4.

Here's the thing.If you love film, you'll love the experiments in cinematic narrative of "Citizen Kane," but at the same time wonder why he chose Hearst and Davis to pick on. You would think that the choice in subject would be every bit as nuanced, especially as the choice is popularly credited with destroying him in Hollywood.And that might lead you to some of Marion Davis' films, especially this one directed by a similarly blacklisted Fatty Arbuckle. This is such a gem. Actually, its quite ordinary, but she is so special in it, it will glow forever. It seems that she would have been better off without Hearst's interest in her. She had the stuff.The climax of this has something of a different flavor than the rest of it, which pretty much follows the formula of the day. It has a pacing that was unusual for the time. Hard to notice today when such things seem like the way the world breathes. But Fatty knew his stuff, and so did Marion. And so did Orson but he actually relied on them. Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.

While this film isn't nearly as good as Marion Davies' best comedy, SHOW PEOPLE, it is still a pretty good silent comedy. It is NOT sophisticated and the humor is rarely laugh out loud funny, but it is nonetheless a sweet movie about mistaken identity as well as a poor and abused girl finally getting a break. Ms. Davies played an abused young lady--much like Cinderella. However, despite her nasty boss, she maintains a sweet disposition and eventually this decency is rewarded when she meets the right man. However, at about the same time, another woman is being forced to marry a man she does not love and so the two briefly change places--creating some mildly amusing moments. All in all, this is a nice movie with a few mild laughs--well made but not exactly life changing.By the way, Davies' pet mouse is named "Ignatz" in honor of the Krazy Kat cartoons.

Excellent film. Almost a fairy tale in its story of the downtrodden Tina (Marion Davies) and the her cruel boss (George Siegmann) who tries to keep her from her love (Owen Moore).Davies is, as always a comic delight as the drudge who works from dawn til dusk. She has a pet mouse that lives in the hole of her wooden shoe. She dares to enter a skating race because Moore will kiss the winner. She wins (thanks to a big dog) but falls into a huge hole in the ice. She has several more adventures that include a haunted mill called the Red Mill before the happy ending.There's a magical moment when Davies is impersonating Fazenda (so she can see her boyfriend) and decides to try the facial mud on the dresser. Poor plain Tina the kitchen drudge packs on the mud, but when she takes off the hardened mask she emerges as the beautiful (and fully made up) Marion Davies! Only in Hollywood!Great cinematography and set decoration help make this a fascinating late silent film and a terrific showcase for the marvelous Marion Davies. Moore is also good as "the Irisher." Siegmann was among the best villains in silent films. Excellent comedy support from Snitz Edwards (a favorite of Buster Keaton's) as well as Louise Fazenda and Karl Dane.A big hit for MGM in 1927 and recently dusted off by TCM and given a new score by Michael Picton. A real treat for Davies fans. And by the way, she plays most of the film without makeup (notice her freckles) but she is just STUNNING in the Irish princess fantasy.And yes Davies talked William Randolph Hearst (who produced) into hiring Roscoe Arbuckle to direct (as William Goodrich). Davies was one of the most generous and big-hearted women in Hollywood and never forgot a friend.A real treat!