The second Louise Brooks/G.W. Pabst collaboration (after "Pandora's Box"). Dark and gloomy. Made after flapper Brooks left Hollywood to pursue greater opportunities and more challenging roles under Pabst's guidance.

#917

Pretty strong subject matter for the 20's.

855

A moving story of a girl disowned by her family after getting raped. The acting is quite strong, though very much of the exaggerated style common in silent films, and while it's a little slow at times it does cover a lot of ground and is quite well put together. The ending is great and really pulls the film together.

I liked this a bit more than Pandora's Box. I was more deeply wrapped up in the story and I cared more about Brooks' character. Also, this is pretty saucy stuff. No onscreen sex or violence, but very obvious rape, prostitution, lesbianism, and reform school girl mob justice. Pabst is excellent at establishing atmosphere; as soon as the film introduces a new location, you know exactly what kind of place it is. The film isn't consistently great, but there are some very impressive moments.

A pretty moving story. The performances are great. It does feel like it has several endings though.

# 746

783

Brooks was much better playing a coquettish entertainer in "Pandora's Box" - her personality is mismatched with this character of a repressed girl who can't get the man she wants and ends up being led down a bad path. There seem to be some plot holes which mar the enjoyment. More silly than rousing.

Damned if I know why people think this is so great. For one thing... rape? *What* rape? She goes to see an obvious creep alone at 10:30 at night, and I didn't see him force her or drug her. For another, I'm not sure what is more absurd: the plot, or the characters. Louise Brooks is beautiful, but that's about all that can be said for this