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- TriviaVitaphone production reel #2418.
Featured review
For Walthall groupies only....
This short from Vitaphone is very, very different from their usual experimental sound film from the era. Most of these shorts were musical numbers or vaudeville skits starring a variety of stage performers. However, here with "Retribution", the film is more like a short movie-- with nice skits AND a big-name star. While Henry Walthall is not a household name today, he appeared in over 300 films--including a starring role in "Birth of a Nation" and quite a few other movies. In the 1930s, during the latter portion of his career, he made a nice mark playing supporting roles--and was a very distinguished actor.
This film finds Walthall playing a guy who is down on his luck. Although he was once rich and successful, he is now broke. He approaches his old nemesis, John, and John revels in the man's misfortune and refuses to help him--saying his misery is retribution for all of his ill-deeds. A lifetime of conniving, using drugs and using people has finally come back to haunt him. However, instead of just accepting all this, he returns the favor--and mentions all of John's evil deeds as well, as apparently he knows John's secrets.
Soon, the scene ends and you see the pair again. This was all part of some play--and the two actors are now talking about the routine they just finished performing.
So is this any good? Well, not particularly. The acting style is the problem--as it's pretty dated. However, I guess they deliberately overdid it so they could act as if they were acting...I dunno. All I know is that unless you are a Walthall groupie, it's an easy one to skip.
This film finds Walthall playing a guy who is down on his luck. Although he was once rich and successful, he is now broke. He approaches his old nemesis, John, and John revels in the man's misfortune and refuses to help him--saying his misery is retribution for all of his ill-deeds. A lifetime of conniving, using drugs and using people has finally come back to haunt him. However, instead of just accepting all this, he returns the favor--and mentions all of John's evil deeds as well, as apparently he knows John's secrets.
Soon, the scene ends and you see the pair again. This was all part of some play--and the two actors are now talking about the routine they just finished performing.
So is this any good? Well, not particularly. The acting style is the problem--as it's pretty dated. However, I guess they deliberately overdid it so they could act as if they were acting...I dunno. All I know is that unless you are a Walthall groupie, it's an easy one to skip.
helpful•01
- planktonrules
- Jul 10, 2014
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- Also known as
- Henry B. Walthall in 'Retribution'
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime11 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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