Get Your Man

According to IMDb, portions of this film are missing--heck, two of the six reels are supposedly missing! However, despite this, I decided to give the film a watch and was surprised that the story worked out pretty well despite the missing reels. As for the remaining ones, they're in reasonably good shape but with a little degradation here and there.

When the story begins, Duke Robert is betrothed to Simone. What's so odd about this? Well, Simone is an infant and Robert looks to be about 4!

Years pass and Robert (Buddy Rogers)goes into town (Paris) to have some pearls re-strung. Once there, he meets vivacious Nancy (Clara Bow) and they soon hit it off. The trouble is that he's engaged and so they part.

Here is where the missing reels occur.

Now apparently Nancy's been in some sort of accident and is staying in Robert's home and I assumed neither she nor he realized this. Later in one of the reels you learned she arranged this accident! Robert's father is the one who took her in and he is very taken by Nancy...as is Simone's father. Later, Nancy learns separately that neither Simone nor Robert want to marry each other but are doing so simply out of obligation. So, to help them (and herself) she hatches a scheme that might enable the engagement to be broken. This scheme includes getting engaged to one of the fathers! So how does it all work out in this light romance? See for yourself...it's posted on YouTube.

As I said above, despite missing a portion of the film, the overall film is STILL worth seeing--which is rather surprising. The story also works well because if Bow's character just schemed to split up an engagement, she would have been a jerk and the story wouldn't have worked. But instead of being just a schemer, she's quite likable and the story sweet and well done.

I would sure love to learn one day that they've found the missing reels. This HAS happened with quite a few films in recent years, so we can only hope!

Thanks to the magic of film we know Clara Bow will always be better than anyone else. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would with Ms Bow doing what she does best in this charming comedy. She has perfect timing and great comic ability. She is as anyone who knows of her the only person you are interested in for the whole film. That said I think Charles (Buddy) Rogers played his part so naturally that he was maybe the perfect co-star for Clara. I must make special mention of Harvey Clark who plays the Marquis De Valens. His character is such a nice surprise in the story and gets some comic turns of his own . Harvey is just as equally spot on in his role and a lot of fun to watch. I think three of the reels in this six reel film have been lost but here is still a good hour of the story to see. As has been pointed out in other reviews there is some nitrate damage in some of the frames. This is a bit distressing to see but then there are some scenes that look practically fresh in comparison with performances that are so good they may as well have been shot yesterday and the over all effect is quite "trippy". It is for me anyway. Add this film to your list and let Clara Bow distract you and put some joy in your heart.

Get Your Man is a great silent starring Buddy Rogers. This was his second co-starring with Clara Bow, the first being 1927's Wings. Set in France, the tale starts with a young Buddy at a betrothal ceremony to a young French girl. Then, when they've grown up and are getting ready for the big day, Clara the American girl shows up. After falling in love with Buddy, Clara starts an elaborate plan to 'get her man'. Overall, it is a light, cute comedy.

Clara Bow is the only reason for watching this picture: She is as vivacious, charming and funny as anyone could be on silent film. In all other respects, the thing does not really work. The plot is incredibly contrived: An arranged marriage between French aristocrats (didn't they have that revolution some time ago?) provides the background; Clara agrees to marry the father of the bride on condition that he releases his daughter from the engagement - her aim being to free up the bridegroom whom she wants to marry herself... It is all rather silly. What's more, Clara's character would not come across as particulary likeable if she was not Clara, whom it is impossible to dislike. The plot is so poorly constructed that you hardly notice that two out of six reels of the film are lost. Says it all, really.

As a boy, handsome Charles "Buddy" Rogers (as Robert Albin) was betrothed to fetching young Josephine Dunn (as Simone de Valens), by respective fathers Josef Swickard (as the Duke of Albin) and Harvey Clark (as the Marquis de Valens). Seventeen years later, the French noble class prepare for Mr. Rogers' pre-arranged wedding. Rogers is sent to the city (Paris) to pick up a string of pearls for the bride, and meets sexy Clara Bow (as Nancy Worthington). Rogers continually runs into Ms. Bow, a New Yorker spending her first unchaperoned day in the romantic city.

By their third meeting, Rogers and Bow are clearly becoming attracted to each other. They fall in love in a wax museum. Bow thinks, "It must be fate." Rogers is stricken with Bow, but feels honor-bound to go through with his Saturday wedding to Ms. Dunn. Sadly, Rogers and Bow part. But, Bow has a plan to "Get Your Man". She stages an automobile accident at Rogers' château, and ingratiates herself into the family. After learning that Rogers' intended wife has a lover, Bow is more determined than ever to break up the unhappy couple.

Reels #2 and #3 of this slightly damaged, six reel feature are lost, but it's still a cohesive, enjoyable film.

The missing footage contains more of Bow and Rogers romancing in Paris, then Bow's staged accident at his château. The accident and aftermath are certainly missed, but it isn't too difficult to comprehend what's happened. Director Dorothy Arzner and photographer Alfred Gilks capture their stars beautifully. That Rogers catches his sleeve on a suitcase while packing, and has to kick a fallen pillow out of the way gives his performance a natural spontaneity. Bow is fresh and playful. The supporting cast is a treasure chest. Hopefully, this film has been saved from any further deterioration.

******* Get Your Man (12/4/27) Dorothy Arzner ~ Clara Bow, Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, Harvey Clark