Musings
an Online Journal of Sorts

By Alyce Wilson

Sunday was the last day of the Philadelphia Film Festival, and our films that day started at 2, so we had time for a leisurely breakfast. We also stopped over at the new place to measure some places where we want things to go.

Our first film of the day was Childstar, directed by Don McKellar, showing at the Prince Music Theater. This was an independent movie which had some star talent, including Jennifer Jason Leigh and Dave Foley.

It was a comedy about a would-be director who becomes the on-set driver and friend of a childstar (Mark Rendall) and his mother. The movie takes an unforgiving look at the movie industry and how it devours childstars; the way they're treated as well as the way people try to take advantage of them.

One of the interesting aspects of this movie is that the childstar in question is nearing puberty and fears his entire career will suddenly disappear. The driver/director advises him to take some more adult roles, some films that help him say what he really wants to say. In some sense, this movie could have been just that sort of film. I was impressed.

We had a little time to relax and get some coffee before our final film, which was also at the Prince. When the line formed, we got in it. The last film was the silent film, Last of the Mohicans, directed by Clarence Brown and Maurice Tourneur in 1920. I usually jump at the chance to see silent films on the big screen. It was accompanied by a keyboardist who provided sound effects and music.

The film was based on the book by James Fenimore Cooper and follows two daughters of a British army officer, who are on the frontier when the French attack. They are brought to their father's fort for safety, and in the process, Cora (Barbara Bedford), the eldest daughter, falls for the Indian guide, Uncas (Alan Roscoe). The feelings appear mutual but are never requited. Uncas does, however, come to her rescue when a shady character from another tribe tries to carry her off as a trophy of war.

"Last of the Mohicans" definitely doesn't have a Hollywood ending. I have to assume, having not read the book, that it's faithful to the book's ending. Having not read the book, I also can't know how present the stereotypes of Native Americans were in the book. They were certainly present in the movie, and the audience often laughed at some of the assumptions made.

Another irritation was that none of the Native American parts were played by Native Americans but rather by white men in dark makeup.

The female lead, Barbara Bedford, was unusual for a silent actress. She had so few expressions that we wondered if she had somehow managed to find Botox back in 1920. This is unusual because in silent movies the tendency is towards overselling emotions, to be melodramatic. You really couldn't tell what she was supposed to be conveying.

Considering how bad she was, we wondered if she had any further movie career. Her listing on IMdB reveals that she must have gotten signed to a studio contract, appearing in numerous films in bit roles. Interestingly, she ended up marrying her romantic costar, Alan Roscoe. He had more of a career, starring opposite Theda Bara in seven pictures. Sadly, his death preceded her by 50 years. He died in 1933, and she lived until 1981.

Afterwards, we ate dinner at Pietro's, where I managed to find a healthy entree of whole wheat pasta with a tomato and basil sauce. We talked about the movies we'd seen, before going home to my dog, Una, who ran up to greet us with her teddy bear in her mouth, glad we were finally home.

More musings from the 2005 Philadelphia Film Fest:

April 11, 2005 - Film Style 5+

April 12, 2005 - Short and Sweet

April 18, 2005 - A Different View

Musings on the 2004 Philadelphia Film Fest:

April 12, 2004 - Indulging in Film

April 19, 2004 - Beyond Tragic Consequences

Copyright 2005 by Alyce Wilson

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