Closing Programme-The best of silent rom-com
Live Accompaniment: Morgan-Paige Melbourne
This is a wonderful blend of gender-bending comedy touches of satire and slapstick underscoring Marion Davies at her rom-com best. Although less well known than her later classics Show People and The Patsy (due to a lack of wide access until now) this film will prove once and for all what a formidable talent Davies was.
Synopsis: Marion is Beverly an American co-ed forced to disguise herself as her cousin Oscar when he suffers a skiing accident. Why? Well he’s not just any cousin he’s the heir to the throne of Graustark (one of those legendary mythical princedoms Hollywood made good use of over the years) and there are those who will stop at nothing to keep him off it. Her work is cut out for her when she must foil the General who has his own ambitions (played with delicious wickedness by Roy D’Arcy). Of course the now disguised Beverly meets Dantan the Goat-Herder (Moreno) who saves her from certain disaster and then hires him as her bodyguard … and you guessed it winds up falling for him. There are mistaken identities palace intrigues quick disguise changes drinking games swordfights and ample suspension of disbelief (those guys were THICK if they couldn’t see the charming gal under the uniform). It all comes to a rousing finale where heroics win out over wicked intent hearts are won AND you get a great early Technicolor fancy ball to close it all out.
Make it part of a Festival Pass or Sunday Pass
Full Festival details at www.torontosilentfilmfestival.com
Event Venue
Revue Cineam, 400 Roncesvalles Ave. Toronto M6R 2M9, Toronto, Canada
CAD 17.00