Au Service de la Gloire

"What Price Glory?" That is the question. Directed by Raoul Walsh, this initial teaming of Victor McLaglen and Edmund Lowe has been said to be Fox Studios' answer to MGM's immensely popular World War story of THE BIG PARADE (1925) starring John Gilbert and Renee Adoree, but while this, along with THE BIG PARADE, goes on record as one of the many top silent movies of all time, WHAT PRICE GLORY (1926), did prove successful. However, due to countless imitations and semi-remakes that followed, either with McLaglen and Lowe, or others, this wartime offering, which combines comedy, witty one liners: "I'd as soon find a skunk in my sleeping bag," to some heavy-handled drama, it has become a movie categorized in terms of cliché, it's best highlighted by a couple of tough Marines shouting profanities at one another "heard" only by experts in lipreading. Labeled a war movie, it consists of two spectacular battlefield sequences, one longer than the other, an attempt to recapture the essence to the horrors of war shown in THE BIG PARADE. Much of the story, however, takes place away from the war-zone while the focus is set upon the two aforementioned roughnecks who fight amongst themselves, particularly when it involves their women, without appearing too theatrical.

The first reel centers upon the introduction to the central characters through the course of three years, starting in Peking, China "where professional soldiers serve as legation guards." Sergeant Quirt (Edmund Lowe) is introduced as "hard-boiled non-commissioned officer of the Marines," while Sergeant Flagg (Victor McLaglen), seen getting tattoos placed on his torso, is "soldiering for wages, loving, and fighting for fun." Next introduction is Shanghai Mabel (Phyllis Haver), "who has just divorced the Army and is announcing her engagement to the Marines." The involvement amongst Flagg, Quirt and Mabel moves forward to the Philippines where the Marines become involved with women over there, followed by next segment in 1914 France, then in 1917 as "the Americans join the allies and the old Marines were in the biggest war of all," where Flagg has been elevated to the rank of captain. While in France, where the duration of the story takes place, Flagg meets up with Charmaine (Dolores Del Rio), a beautiful French gal. The two hit it off until Quirt enters the scene.

The supporting players consists of William V. Mong as Cognac Pete, Charmaine's father; Elena Jurado as Carmen of the Philippines; Leslie Fenton as Moore, a young lieutenant "who takes his war seriously"; Sammy Cohen as Private Pipinsky; and Barry Norton as Private Lewisohn, the "mama's boy" soldier, among others. What, no El Brendel? While Fox might have borrowed Renee Adoree from THE BIG PARADE fame to play Charmaine, it was offered to the Mexican born Dolores Del Rio making one of her first Hollywood screen appearances. Coming close to the physical resemblance to Adoree's character, Del Rio succeeds solely due to the fact that her Mexican accent cannot be heard in a silent film.

Based on the popular play by Laurence Stallings and Maxwell Anderson, the movie version to WHAT PRICE GLORY, which runs for two solid hours, is perfectly cast by a fine trio of McLaglen, Lowe and Del Rio, actors not necessarily known for their work in silent movies. The success to WHAT PRICE GLORY inspired three sequels produced during the early sound era with McLaglen and Lowe reprising their roles: THE COCK-EYED WORLD (1929), with Lili Damita; WOMEN OF ALL NATIONS (1931), with Greta Nissen; and HOT PEPPER (1933), with Lupe Velez, all forgotten curios due to lack of revivals. While a sound remake of WHAT PRICE GLORY featuring McLaglen and Lowe during the 1930s or early 1940s might have seemed a logical choice, a remake, however, was eventually made, but starring the miscast combination of James Cagney and Dan Dailey for 20th Century-Fox. In spite of John Ford's 1952 direction, it fails to come close to the caricatures immortalized by McLaglen and Lowe.

WHAT PRICE GLORY became the introductory movie presented on the 12-week public broadcasting series of "The Silent Years" (1975) hosted by Lillian Gish (WNET, Channel 13, in New York City), with WHAT PRICE GLORY accompanied by William Perry piano score from the Paul Killiam collection. The print presented in this series was used for the 1996 limited time only video distribution through Critics Choice Masterpiece Collection. American Movie Classics cable channel offered a rare showing to WHAT PRICE GLORY in June 1998 as part of its annual film preservation series, this time accompanied by the original Fox Movietone synchronized musical score with the theme song of "Charmaine" composed by Erno Rapee and Lew Pollack, in place of Perry's expert piano playing.

WHAT PRICE GLORY may be something from the time capsule, but any movie that introduces its female co-stars with the camera's focus on their "seated bottom" instead of their charming faces can't be all bad. What price glory!! (***)

Like "Wings" and "The Big Parade," "What Price Glory" was made while the events of World War I were still fresh in the memory of audiences. Directed by Raoul Walsh, the film is set against the background of war and relates the rivalry between two U.S. Marines, Sergeant Quirt, played by Edmund Lowe, and Sergeant Flagg, played by Victor McLaglen. The film opens in Peking, where the two men are Marine guards at the U.S. embassy and, when off duty, compete for the attentions of Shanghai Mabel. The action moves to the Philippines, where Quirt steals the affections of Flagg's Filipina girlfriend. In 1917 France, the two meet up for a third time; Flagg has been promoted to Captain, and Quirt is now a Top Sergeant. Echoing their past, when Quirt reappears, the animosity between the two rekindles. Despite Flagg's involvement with Charmaine de la Cognac, a French spitfire, well portrayed by Dolores del Rio, Quirt moves in on Flagg's girl once again. Like Shanghai Mabel and the Filipina, Charmaine has an eye for the handsome Quirt, and, when Flagg is sent off to battle, the pair consummate their mutual attraction.

Written by Laurence Stallings and Maxwell Anderson, "What Price Glory" throws the romantic triangle into the chaos of war; the battle scenes are convincingly staged, and, at times, feel like newsreels. While troops advance into battle amidst exploding artillery shells, the muddy trench warfare and the harrowing gas attacks send a clear anti-war message. However, the quiet moments are equally powerful and often touching. A series of flashbacks visually depict what the soldiers left behind: homes, mothers, jobs, and wives; another series of shots show the dough-boys reading letters from home, the words stretched across the screen. When the action cuts to an underground aid station, a dark grim hell of wounded and dying is exposed.

Victor McLaglen is excellent as Sergeant Flagg and holds the film together. Tall, rugged, and craggy, McLaglen is convincing as the marine leader, who is brave in battle, but falters on the romantic front. While co-star Edmund Lowe is also good in a less demanding role, he is overshadowed by McLaglen. Dolores del Rio is also fine, although at times she lapses into the overplayed mannerisms often associated with silent-film performances by those who denigrate them. Barry Norton, as a gentle private, whose mother is the center of his life, has some touching moments. Rare for a silent film, Dolores del Rio's character has a lovely musical theme, "Charmaine," composed by Erno Rapee, that was especially written for use when showing the film.

While arguably a lesser achievement than "Wings," "The Big Parade," and "All Quiet on the Western Front," "What Price Glory" nevertheless is a major achievement among the early films that recreated World War I for home audiences. Generally fine performances, convincing battle scenes, and a memorable theme song make Raoul Walsh's anti-war epic another essential classic from the silent era.

What Price Glory was one of the great plays of the Roaring Twenties, a shuddering look back at the greatest war in history and people's determination not to go through that again. People actually took time away from their partying to go look at this one. It was one of the biggest hits that the Shubert organization ever produced, running 435 performances in the 1924-25 season on Broadway. And it was a popular choice for little theater companies to stage for the next 30 years or so. If you remember in the film It's A Wonderful World, James Stewart and Claudette Colbert find themselves in such a revival production at a company in the Hudson Valley.

What Laurence Stallings and Maxwell Anderson wrote got to the silent big screen for Fox Films in 1926 and it was deservedly a box office hit. Unlike The Big Parade it's Broadway success brought a built in audience to the movie theaters.

The male buddy film may well have originated with this film as Victor McLaglen and Edmund Lowe as Captain Flagg and Sergeant Quirt gave such powerful performances. Later on Warner Brothers by teaming James Cagney and Pat O'Brien teamed them in a variety of films and situations whereas McLaglen and Lowe only played variations of Flagg and Quirt when they weren't using those names. You can make a case for either McLaglen/Lowe or Cagney/O'Brien for inventing the genre.

One thing that is important is that like The Virginian which novel and play set the standard for western characters, What Price Glory did so for the male buddy film. These were not stock characters then, this is the original.

I'd be hard pressed to pick out whether The Big Parade or What Price Glory did the battle scenes best, capturing the horror of total war that the First World War was. In terms of plot I'd say What Price Glory has it over The Big Parade as a story. The two Marines McLaglen and Lowe are friendly rivals over women or liquor, but fierce fighting companions in combat. The object of their affection is Charmaine played by Dolores Del Rio, the comely innkeeper's daughter. Charmaine has her own song, one of the earliest written for a film of the same name that was a big seller in The Roaring Twenties. That also contributed mightily to the box office for What Price Glory.

The First Marine Division was the first American troops to actually see combat in France. These two and their fellow Marines might well be part of the Belleau Wood operations where Marines were rushed into bolster French and British troops when the German offensive threatened to break through.

What Price Glory holds up magnificently from the silent era, still as a reminder of the futility of war and the plucky comradeship that can develop from that shared experience.

Buddy films have always been popular throughout cinematic history. Mention Thelma and Louise, Butch Cassidy and Harry Longabaugh, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, and movie fans can instantaneously riddle off the movies they appeared in. The screen's first buddy pairing in cinema was Sergeant Quirt and Captain Flagg in November 1926's "What Price Glory?"

Ironically, the pioneering film was based on the 1924 play of the same name by the pairing of Laurence Stallings, a World War One wounded veteran-turned-writer, and teacher-turned-playwright Maxwell Anderson. The stage play was known for its spoken vulgarity by the two leads, a fact that transferred over to the screen, much to the consternation of lip-readers in the movie theaters. "What Price Glory?" details a years-long rivalry between Quirt (Edmund Lowe) and Flagg (Victor McLaglen) for a women. Their initial confrontation before the camera serves as an example of the profanities spewing from their mouths between them. Since the film was silent, and the inter titles didn't quite transcribe the exact words, those who could read lips were stunned at what the two mouthed. They flooded the Fox Films Studio with tons of complaining letters.

William Fox wanted to replicate the success of King Vidor's earlier "The Big Parade" showing the struggle in WW1 between American and German forces. "What Price Glory?" Almost equaled the success of its counterpart MGM epic, with the Raoul Walsh directed film the year's second highest box office motion picture, combining comedy and dramatic battle scenes. The film follows Quirt and Flagg as they scrap one other again for the love of another woman, this time for Charlemagne (Dolores del Rio), the daughter of a French innkeeper they met while taking a break from the front.

This was only the fifth American film Mexican-born Del Rio appeared. Discovered in Mexico the year before, she was the first Latin American actress to become a major star in Hollywood. Her stunning looks were compared to the male version of Rudolph Valentino during those silent movie days. Despite her Spanish-language upbringing, Del Rio was able to make the transition to sound with an English lint to her Hispanic accent.

"What Price Glory?" box office allure was helped by an accompanying sound track released three months after its premier in January 1927. Fox had contracted with Theodore Case, the former partner to inventor Lee de Forest in developing a sound-on-film technique. The two had combined their innovations on placing sound waves on the same film strip alongside the visuals. The two had a falling out, allowing Case to modify and improve the technology. Fox provided the funding to fine-tune the audio system as well as to bring the technology into movie theaters. The end result, called Movietone, gave Fox the ability to provide a musical and sound effects audio track to run coincidedly with its earlier-produced silent movie. "What Price Glory?" was the first feature film introducing Movietone to the public. Case's sound system was the third of four competing formats vying for dominance in the transition from silent to 'talkie' movies.

Raoul Walsh directed two of the three sequels to "What Price Glory?": a very early talkie, 1929's 'The Cock-Eyed World,' and 1931's "Women of All Nations." John Blystone directed the third sequel, 1933's "Hot Pepper." All three stared the buddies Edmund Lowe and Victor McLaglen, who became fast friends towards the end of "What Price Glory?" Director John Ford took a swing at the original play's storyline in his 1952 film, "What Price Glory," with James Cagney and Dan Daily, arch-enemies-turned-best friends.

Fox's answer to MGM's "The Big Parade," and I think it's a markedly superior movie, thanks to better pacing and the rousing direction of Raoul Walsh. He's in his element here: a big war movie with loads of comedy and romance, and three strong personalities at its center. McLaglen was born for this sort of stuff; Lowe wasn't, but he's a very convincing roistering-randy soldier. And Del Rio is so beautiful you don't much care what she does. The horrors of war are amply displayed, and the Hollywood hills doubling for the French countryside work just fine. But what made it such a hit, I guess, was the utterly winning frenemy relationship of Quirt and Flagg. They fight for dames, they hurl insults back and forth, they curse each other with all-too-lip-readable epithets, but you never doubt their loyalty and respect for each other. Maybe there's one skirmish too many--it gets a little repetitive-- but it's much faster-moving than "The Big Parade," and the soldier stereotypes commented on elsewhere don't hurt so much. Also, Leslie Fenton is excellent.