THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD of 1926 joins the ever growing list of once lost Fox silent films (we're talking pre-20th Century Fox) that have not only recently been found, but have been restored so that they can be enjoyed once more. Most people are unaware of the fact that virtually all of Fox's silent film output was destroyed in a massive warehouse fire in 1937 (there's actual footage of the fire on You Tube). Since serious silent film restoration began around the turn of the century, fewer than two dozen of their movies have been recovered. Most of them are by big name directors like John Ford, Frank Borzage, and F. W. Murnau. Chances are that if Janet Gaynor hadn't been in FLOOD then you wouldn't be seeing this Blu-Ray today
The backdrop for the movie is the famous Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood of May 31, 1889 in which 2,208 died making it the worst American flooding disaster of the 19th century. However the flood itself only takes place in the last 15 minutes of the film with a 2 minute epilogue showing the hero and heroine after the town has been rebuilt. Up until then the movie is your basic silent film melodrama. Young Anna Burger (Janet Gaynor in her first major role at the age of 19) is in love with local engineer Tom O'Day (George O'Brien who starred in THE IRON HORSE and SUNRISE and who bears a striking resemblance to Nicholas Cage) but he only has eyes for the daughter (Florence Gilbert) of the local timber baron.
The timber baron (Anders Randolph) and his cohort (Paul Nicholson) know the local dam has structural deficiencies, but they plan to go ahead with a huge lumber contract which calls for filling the river behind the dam with hundreds of logs. This combined with a heavy rainstorm triggers the catastrophic flood. O'Day tries to warn them but they refuse to listen. This doesn't stop him from planning to marry the baron's daughter while he is away. Just as the wedding is about to take place, the dam bursts and Janet Gaynor tries to warn the citizens about the tons of water and debris that are headed their way. She is only partially successful and the town is inundated and many people are killed but, of course, the hero and heroine survive.
Although cast in a supporting role where she does not get the guy, Janet Gaynor gives the film's best performance and is as endearing today as she was back in 1926. George O' Brien once again uses his winning smile and friendly demeanor to capably play the leading man. Most of the other performers acquit themselves admirably with the exception of leading lady Florence Gilbert who is just sort of there but then the script gives her very little to do. Max Davidson as a Jewish storekeeper and George Harris as his son are colorful characters but are ethnic stereotypes by today's standards and may offend some people. The brief blackface stage number will probably do the same but remember the setting here is supposed to be 1889 not 2023.
For years THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD survived in a worn out one hour print which didn't do it justice. A complete print did exist at the George Eastman Museum in Rochester, NY and it is that print which is the basis of this restoration. It looks absolutely marvelous with just a couple of brief examples of nitrate decomposition left in to show people what restorers have to deal with. The film is tinted and toned and comes with an ideal accompanying score by Rodney Sauer and his Mont Alto Orchestra. The special features are impressive and include audio interviews, a clip of Janet Gaynor at the 1977 Oscars, and a 3D photo gallery of the actual flood (3D glasses included). Not a great movie but an entertaining one and well worth the restoration...For more reviews visit The Capsule Critic.
The backdrop for the movie is the famous Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood of May 31, 1889 in which 2,208 died making it the worst American flooding disaster of the 19th century. However the flood itself only takes place in the last 15 minutes of the film with a 2 minute epilogue showing the hero and heroine after the town has been rebuilt. Up until then the movie is your basic silent film melodrama. Young Anna Burger (Janet Gaynor in her first major role at the age of 19) is in love with local engineer Tom O'Day (George O'Brien who starred in THE IRON HORSE and SUNRISE and who bears a striking resemblance to Nicholas Cage) but he only has eyes for the daughter (Florence Gilbert) of the local timber baron.
The timber baron (Anders Randolph) and his cohort (Paul Nicholson) know the local dam has structural deficiencies, but they plan to go ahead with a huge lumber contract which calls for filling the river behind the dam with hundreds of logs. This combined with a heavy rainstorm triggers the catastrophic flood. O'Day tries to warn them but they refuse to listen. This doesn't stop him from planning to marry the baron's daughter while he is away. Just as the wedding is about to take place, the dam bursts and Janet Gaynor tries to warn the citizens about the tons of water and debris that are headed their way. She is only partially successful and the town is inundated and many people are killed but, of course, the hero and heroine survive.
Although cast in a supporting role where she does not get the guy, Janet Gaynor gives the film's best performance and is as endearing today as she was back in 1926. George O' Brien once again uses his winning smile and friendly demeanor to capably play the leading man. Most of the other performers acquit themselves admirably with the exception of leading lady Florence Gilbert who is just sort of there but then the script gives her very little to do. Max Davidson as a Jewish storekeeper and George Harris as his son are colorful characters but are ethnic stereotypes by today's standards and may offend some people. The brief blackface stage number will probably do the same but remember the setting here is supposed to be 1889 not 2023.
For years THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD survived in a worn out one hour print which didn't do it justice. A complete print did exist at the George Eastman Museum in Rochester, NY and it is that print which is the basis of this restoration. It looks absolutely marvelous with just a couple of brief examples of nitrate decomposition left in to show people what restorers have to deal with. The film is tinted and toned and comes with an ideal accompanying score by Rodney Sauer and his Mont Alto Orchestra. The special features are impressive and include audio interviews, a clip of Janet Gaynor at the 1977 Oscars, and a 3D photo gallery of the actual flood (3D glasses included). Not a great movie but an entertaining one and well worth the restoration...For more reviews visit The Capsule Critic.