By the usual extremely lavish standards of D.W. Griffith, "Scarlet Days" (1919) represents a considerable step backwards. Richard Barthelmess fans will not be pleased either, for their hero is confined to a comparatively small role.
It is Carol Dempster (somewhat ridiculously referred to in the inter-titles as "Lady Fair") who enjoys all the camera's largess, closely followed by matronly Eugenie Besserer of all people (Jolson's mother in The Jazz Singer) as a dance-hall girl (!) in a noirish vice den presided over by perennial villain, Walter Long.
However, it's Clarine Seymour (as a dirty-faced but rather attractive Mexican maid-of-all-work) who makes the most impression.
It must be admitted that the tinted photography is attractive and that the familiar plot moves with reasonable celerity over its 76 minutes. All the same, despite its value as a curiosity piece, "Scarlet Days" rates as second-rate Griffith.
Included on the same DVD disc, however, is a delightful three-reel comedy short, Rowdy Ann (1919), very competently directed and most extravagantly produced by Al Christie. Fay Tincher, the charismatic titular heroine, made over 160 movies. She died at the age of 99 in 1983. I bet nobody bothered to interview her! (The Grapevine Video DVD rates at least 8/10).
It is Carol Dempster (somewhat ridiculously referred to in the inter-titles as "Lady Fair") who enjoys all the camera's largess, closely followed by matronly Eugenie Besserer of all people (Jolson's mother in The Jazz Singer) as a dance-hall girl (!) in a noirish vice den presided over by perennial villain, Walter Long.
However, it's Clarine Seymour (as a dirty-faced but rather attractive Mexican maid-of-all-work) who makes the most impression.
It must be admitted that the tinted photography is attractive and that the familiar plot moves with reasonable celerity over its 76 minutes. All the same, despite its value as a curiosity piece, "Scarlet Days" rates as second-rate Griffith.
Included on the same DVD disc, however, is a delightful three-reel comedy short, Rowdy Ann (1919), very competently directed and most extravagantly produced by Al Christie. Fay Tincher, the charismatic titular heroine, made over 160 movies. She died at the age of 99 in 1983. I bet nobody bothered to interview her! (The Grapevine Video DVD rates at least 8/10).