Hoodoo Ann

The movie is not the best. The print I saw was choppy, which may have been due to bits being cut out of it by different people as the years went by. (Projectionist sometimes did this in the early days of film, to make a collection of bits that they particularly liked.)

There is a very thin and predictable plot which distracts from the film. However, there are always some interesting bits in a film that Griffith has something to do with. In this case the fire scene is quite spectacular, especially for the time and particularly when you realize there is no trick photography here. The scene of the lovers on the porch going in and out of the frame is visually creative and works very well. There is also a rather funny parody of the movies from that period and several other surprising comic situations. These also work very well, mainly due to the skills of Mae Marsh.

Some actors/esses are always interesting to watch, regardless of if they are good looking. That is what sets a star apart. Mae Marsh is such an actress, In this film she is very sympathetic and shows an excellent comic gift. She is not a beauty but she still seems desirable and very charming. The comic sequences are successful because of her.

Mae is the main reason for watching this film. She was an unusual actress and it is a pity that only a few of her staring films are available.