Copyright: 3 December 1924 by Pathé Exchange. U.S. release: 14 December 1924. 6 reels. 6,091 feet. 74 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: The tough founder of a small town straddling the Missouri/Kansas border has two burly sons and one comparative weakling-a "white sheep".
NOTES: Remade by Harold Lloyd as The Kid Brother (1927).
COMMENT: While it doesn't bear comparison with Harold Lloyd's far more elaborately staged Kid Brother, this original version of the story incorporates not only plenty of sly humor but radiates considerable charm.
Roach gives more emphasis to the brothers than Lloyd. In fact, Bob Kortman has one of his meatiest roles ever as the cornet-playing Milt. And likewise Leo Willis is more individualized than in the Lloyd version. Blanche Mehaffey makes a very attractive heroine too and big Jack Gavin is certainly a more imposing presence than Walter James; while Tryon himself proves a very agreeable hero. He's nowhere near as funny as Lloyd nor as inventive as Lloyd, but in his own way he is more sympathetic.
I could go right through the cast list and make comparisons, but I think it's true to say that Roach has given the well-cast support players more prominence. Even the dog! And, despite what some critics have noted, he is a very able director.
AVAILABLE on DVD from Grapevine. Quality rating: 8 out of ten
SYNOPSIS: The tough founder of a small town straddling the Missouri/Kansas border has two burly sons and one comparative weakling-a "white sheep".
NOTES: Remade by Harold Lloyd as The Kid Brother (1927).
COMMENT: While it doesn't bear comparison with Harold Lloyd's far more elaborately staged Kid Brother, this original version of the story incorporates not only plenty of sly humor but radiates considerable charm.
Roach gives more emphasis to the brothers than Lloyd. In fact, Bob Kortman has one of his meatiest roles ever as the cornet-playing Milt. And likewise Leo Willis is more individualized than in the Lloyd version. Blanche Mehaffey makes a very attractive heroine too and big Jack Gavin is certainly a more imposing presence than Walter James; while Tryon himself proves a very agreeable hero. He's nowhere near as funny as Lloyd nor as inventive as Lloyd, but in his own way he is more sympathetic.
I could go right through the cast list and make comparisons, but I think it's true to say that Roach has given the well-cast support players more prominence. Even the dog! And, despite what some critics have noted, he is a very able director.
AVAILABLE on DVD from Grapevine. Quality rating: 8 out of ten
