The Notorious Lady

A gem of silent cinema, extravagantly produced both in the studio and on real locations, with fine acting and technical credits including brilliant direction by King Baggot, a real cinema stylist if ever there was one! At one stage, Mr Baggot inserts a title card in the middle of a rapid tracking shot. I can just see the editors throwing up their collective hands in protest: "You can't do that, Mr Baggot!" But he does! And more importantly, it works! On another occasion, the director attempts another absolute cinema no-no -- a front to back reverse cut. And that works too, as smooth as pie, because he uses a long shot for the reverse! Worth remembering! You can get away with cutting left to right, if you use a long shot for the reverse.

The story itself is a mixture of old-fashioned romantic melodrama with a typical South African adventure plot, but it all seems solidly real and edge-of-the-seat suspenseful, thanks to great performances all around, particularly from Barbara Bedford who handles a difficult role with moving sensitivity and J. Gunnis Davis (a most unusual villain who makes the most of some great comic and dramatic material).

Lewis Stone also comes across most engagingly and even the most minor roles are all most creditably and credibly played.