THE DROP KICK is advertised as a college football movie. While college football was a craze during the 20s, this film is much more. And although the final 15 minutes or so are devoted to "the big game," this Richard Barthelmess starrer is also a romantic mystery story.
Barthelmess plays wealthy Jack Hamill, captain of Shoreham College's football team and an ace at the drop kick. He's also vaguely interested in girls. After he breaks up with Alberta Vaughn, he starts to date (at his mother's insistence) shy Barbara Kent. But another former girlfriend is making trouble.
Eunice (a venomous Dorothy Revier) marries the football coach thinking he has money, but his meager salary is putting a crimp in her spending. Desperate to keep his young wife, the coach (Eugene Strong) steals college money. As he is about to be exposed, he writes a confessional letter and shoots himself. Unfortunately, Barthelmess is visiting Revier (at her request) at the time and people wonder why he was there.
Revier finds the letter and tears away the part about his theft, leaving only words that vaguely implicate Barthelmess in a love affair with his wife. Revier says only their marriage will make her forget her husband's suicide. Barthelmess agrees, sending Barbara Kent into a funk.
Enter the mother. Hedda Hopper is excellent as the loving yet crafty mother who figures there is something very wrong, especially after she examines the torn letter. She visits Revier, sizes her up, and offers her a check for the other half of the letter and to get out of town. Revier practically drools at the thought of cash. In an excellent scene, Hopper is sitting at a desk writing the check. Revier cannot contain herself and tries to peer over her shoulder to see how much she's getting. At that moment Hopper glances up in a mirror and sees her. But Revier doesn't know she's been found out and goes back into her grieving widow act.
With Revier "somewhere in Europe," Barthelmess can concentrate on the big game. After muffing a few plays, he's yanked from the game. But as his team trails going into the final minutes, he gets a chance at redemption.
Barthelmess is solid as the college hero. Revier and Hopper turn in terrific performances. The rest of the cast is adequate. John Wayne is one of the football players and an extra in the stands.
Barthelmess plays wealthy Jack Hamill, captain of Shoreham College's football team and an ace at the drop kick. He's also vaguely interested in girls. After he breaks up with Alberta Vaughn, he starts to date (at his mother's insistence) shy Barbara Kent. But another former girlfriend is making trouble.
Eunice (a venomous Dorothy Revier) marries the football coach thinking he has money, but his meager salary is putting a crimp in her spending. Desperate to keep his young wife, the coach (Eugene Strong) steals college money. As he is about to be exposed, he writes a confessional letter and shoots himself. Unfortunately, Barthelmess is visiting Revier (at her request) at the time and people wonder why he was there.
Revier finds the letter and tears away the part about his theft, leaving only words that vaguely implicate Barthelmess in a love affair with his wife. Revier says only their marriage will make her forget her husband's suicide. Barthelmess agrees, sending Barbara Kent into a funk.
Enter the mother. Hedda Hopper is excellent as the loving yet crafty mother who figures there is something very wrong, especially after she examines the torn letter. She visits Revier, sizes her up, and offers her a check for the other half of the letter and to get out of town. Revier practically drools at the thought of cash. In an excellent scene, Hopper is sitting at a desk writing the check. Revier cannot contain herself and tries to peer over her shoulder to see how much she's getting. At that moment Hopper glances up in a mirror and sees her. But Revier doesn't know she's been found out and goes back into her grieving widow act.
With Revier "somewhere in Europe," Barthelmess can concentrate on the big game. After muffing a few plays, he's yanked from the game. But as his team trails going into the final minutes, he gets a chance at redemption.
Barthelmess is solid as the college hero. Revier and Hopper turn in terrific performances. The rest of the cast is adequate. John Wayne is one of the football players and an extra in the stands.