Inland, Dreaming of Waves

Diary of a Lost Girl

Went to see a classic German expressionist film tonight. Haven't seen a silent film in a while, so am writing like Annie Proulx (spelling?) in Shipping News.

This one dates from 1929. The star, Louise Brooks, hated the Hollywood system and escaped it by making films in Germany. This one was the story of the girl who is seduced and descends into "ruin."

Classic scene in the reformatory in which the girls smoke, play cards, crawl under the covers with each other (a quick shot, that one). But wait until the headmistress comes in and makes them undress and exercise in their skivvies! To the beat of a gong, no less! The girls all gang up on her in one scene. Can you blame them?

Diary of a Lost Girl was very slow, but the mood of the film made it worthwhile to me.

Apparently censors forced the director to film a more cheerful ending, in which the (now-redeemed) girl's husband declares, "If there were more love in the world, no one would be lost." The director wanted her to go back to the brothel and run it instead of becoming a countess.

Hmmm, what do you think? Would you rather be called madam or countess?

posted by Price of Silence @ 10:15 PM