It

Starring: Clara Bow, Antonio Moreno, William Austin, Priscilla Bonner, Gary Cooper (uncredited)
Directed by: Clarence G. Badger
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Comedy, Romance
1927

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A salesgirl (Clara Bow) with "it" falls for her handsome, rich boss (Antonio Moreno).

Review:

Tim: It popularized the idea of an "It" girl, and Clara Bow became Hollywood's first "It" girl. This movie is incredibly influential in that manner. The film itself is a pretty solid romantic comedy. It is entertaining, and features one tremendous performance. In short, it's definitely worth seeing.

What separates this movie from others is the performance of Clara Bow. Her performance is stunning. In this silent film, Bow conveys so much excitement, energy, and emotion with only her facial expressions. This movie is completely and totally about her- with her energetic performance, she made herself a star. Now, you really have to look at this performance through a 1920s lens- that allows you to see her as a strong-willed, brave, ambitious woman. Thinking about her character through today's lens makes you consider her a bit too manipulative and quite possibly a little bit of a golddigger. At the time, though, she represented a major shift in the attitudes of women- they didn't have to be subservient- they could be independent, successful, and strong. While not a perfect role model, Clara Bow represented a positive example for many women in the 1920s. However, it's not just her character that does this- it's Bow's strong, charismatic performance. She was called upon to display "it" - that intangible characteristic that made you magnetically appealing to everyone around you. That is a tall order, but Bow pulls it off beautifully. From her energy to her smile, to those dark eyes- she was exactly what this movie needed for the role.

I felt like the story was only slightly above average. Our protagonist falls in love with the manager of her store, but he doesn't even realize she's alive. He completely ignores her. So, to get on his radar, she goes on a date with his best friend (this kind of skeeved me out a bit) so that he will notice her. He does, and they start a relationship (even though he is apparently engaged to another woman). While they are together, Bow also continues something with the best friend (at one point basically forcing him to help her). It's all a little confusing, because I wasn't sure how I was supposed to feel about Bow's character- I assumed I was supposed to be impressed and respect her for her cunning and her strength, but a little voice was nagging that she wasn't really taking the most honorable path to land her man. It certainly may have made more sense to 1920s audiences.

This is the first film of director Clarence G Badger's I have seen, but I have to say I was impressed with him. He follows and frames the action quite well. I was impressed with the cinematography of the date at the fun park, and the finale on the yacht was also quite impressive. However, Badger's greatest achievement was in filming Clara Bow, and just letting her exude "it" on the screen. That is the most indelible image of the entire film, and it's the reason this movie is memorable. He created the environment for Bow to shine, and that's note-worthy.

So, It is likely not a true classic, but it's a memorable romantic comedy that features one incredibly strong performance. I enjoyed this silent movie, and I'd highly recommend it. Bow was fantastic, and the movie as a whole is pretty entertaining.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



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