Compliments of the Season

Eric Dressler and Lenita Lane star in this Vitagraph short subject that Warner Brothers did it's an interesting and heart warming Christmas season film. It perfectly captures the era of The Great Depression and the desperate mood of the times.

Very simply Dressler is an ex-convict released recently from jail. He's a petty thief, not a violent type and probably got involved in the crooked life out of economic want. That was something Depression audiences could relate to and Warner Brothers was the studio that most related to that working class and on relief audience. Dressler saves Lane from committing suicide over a broken heart and in the end proves he has more worth than the law represented by policeman Pat O'Brien would give him credit for.

Compliments Of The Season marked the film debut of Pat O'Brien who later Warner Brothers would pick up as one of their premier stars of the Thirties. Pat shows his versatility here, usually he's a tough guy with a heart of gold, in this he's a flint heart and a cynic. His appearance is the main reason for seeing this film simply because he's the only name most will know.

Still this is not a short subject and it does mark the birth of Hollywood legend.