I have read several times (including on this board) that a mistake was made by having a British constable walk down a street in Paris in this version of "Trilby". Not so! In keeping with the plot of the story, Taffy and The Laird go to visit Billie after his return to England. When they are seen meeting Billie in front of the docked ship, it is meant to represent their crossing of the channel and their arrival in England. The actor portraying the British constable (in this scene) was put there to remind audiences that the setting had now changed from France to England. This scene was probably shot on location at New York's old docking slip in Manhattan. I'm sure that the abrupt editing in many of these older silent films causes confusion to some modern viewers. "Trilby" (like many other silent films made in the 'teens) does seem to be lacking in clarity at times. However, it is a condensed yet reasonably faithful adaptation of the tale and the actors give good interpretations in their roles. If followed correctly, "Trilby" can be a most enjoyable silent film!
Review of Trilby
