The Night of Love

Excellent romantic drama starring Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky as star-crossed lovers. He's a gypsy and she's a princess. Their paths cross when an evil Duke (Montagu Love) uses his "privilege" of a night of love with new brides. He takes Colman's gypsy bride but she kills herself rather than submit. Later, when the princess arrives to marry the Duke, she's abducted by Colman as revenge his his bride's death. They are finally captured by the Duke and his army but just as Colman is about to be burned at the stake a miracle happens. Beautifully done with breathtaking close-ups of the stars.

Others in the cast include Sally Rand as the gypsy dancer, Natalie Kingston as the evil Beatriz, and John George as the jester.

Banky was discovered by Sam Goldwyn and nicknamed the Hungarian Rhapsody for American films. She was a hit in her first Hollywood, THE DARK ANGEL. Of Banky's 28 films, only 8 survive in complete form or in fragments. Colman, of course, was a major actor in silents and moved easily into talkies.