Allan Dwan’s “Stage Struck” is a film that exemplifies Gloria Swanson’s comedic skills as an actress. She was the most sought-out actress in the world and whenever the camera focused on her, she knew how to captivate audiences. A delightful, lighthearted silent comedy that I recommend!
© 1925 by Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.
TITLE: Stage Struck
DATE OF FILM RELEASE: 1925
DURATION: 84 Minutes
BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p (1:33:1 Aspect Ratio), DTS HD-Master Audio, B&W, and Color, English Intertitles
COMPANY: Kino Lorber
RATED: Not Rated
RELEASE DATE: April 10, 2018
Based on the story by Frank R. Adams
Directed by Allan Dwan
Screenplay by Forrest Halsey
Adaptation by Sylvia LaVarre
Produced by Allan Dwan
Cinematography by George Webber
Art Direction by Van Nest Polglase
Costume Design by Rene Hubert
Starring:
Gloria Swanson as Jennie Hagen
Lawrence Gray as Orme Wilson
Gertrude Astor as Lillian Lyons
Oliver Sandys as Hilda Wagner
Ford Sterling as Buck
One of the last lighthearted collaborations between Gloria Swanson and Allan Dwan, Stage Struck (1925) is a sweetly funny account of a small-town girl with dreams of fame. Swanson plays Jenny Hagen, a diner waitress who fantasizes about a life on stage. Her heart belongs to Orme Wilson (Lawrence Gray), an expert pancake flipper, who only has eyes for the women in movie magazines. So when a river showboat comes to town, he only has eyes for the star, Lillian Lyons (Gertrude Astor). Inflamed with jealousy, Jenny is determined to get on stage herself, by any means necessary.
In 1925, director Allan Dwan was one of the more popular directors for Paramount Pictures, known for directing films starring Mary Pickford and also Douglas Fairbanks for his 1922 film “Robin Hood”.
And would transition to sound films starring Shirley Temple and also would directing the highly acclaimed John Wayne 1949 box office hit, “Sands of Iwo Jima”.
But during the silent film era and in the 1920’s, he is known for directing films starring one of the most wanted, one of the most successful actresses and fashion icon, Gloria Swanson in eight feature films and one short film.
In fact, she is considered the screen’s first clothes horse (i.e. fashionista) and she was photographed and featured in numerous publications during that time.
And the working relationship between Dwan and Swanson was solid at the time and they would work together in the 1925 Paramount Pictures film “Stage Struck”, which would also star Lawrence Gray, Gertrude Astor and Ford Sterling. Featuring a story by Frank R. Adams, a screenplay by Forrest Halsey and an adaptation by Sylvia LaVarre.
And it was a silent film that would feature early two-color Technicolor in the opening and ending sequence.
And now “Stage Struck” will be released with its new 2K remaster on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.
The film begins with Gloria Swanson as Jennie Hagen.  We see Jennie as a famous actress who men want to be next to and offer her food that she is not interested in. But she desires the wheat cakes served by Orme Wilson (portrayed by Lawrence Gray), who many single women are after.
But as Jennie and Orme get closer, it was all a dream.
In reality, Jennie is a clumsy, poor waitress who dreams of becoming an actress but Jennie doesn’t care much, as long as she gets to be close by the wheat cake cook, Orme.
But Orme is a person who loves beautiful actresses, in fact, his whole bedroom is full of photos of actresses. And that is why Jennie wants to become an actress, so Orme can fall in love with her.
But when Buck (portrayed by Ford Sterling) brings his show on his riverboat to town, he brings actress Lillian Lyons (portrayed by Gertrude Astor) and sets up a date with Lillian and a local, who happens to be Orme.
But can Jennie find a way to win Orme’s attention, despite his attention being focused on Lillian?
VIDEO:
“Stage Struck” is presented in 1080p High Definition (1:33:1 aspect ratio) and is black and white and color. The quality of the film on Blu-ray is fantastic with no sign of any significant film damage of warping. Considering the age of this film, one can expect to see the usual scratches and specks from each frame but considering how good this film looks for a silent film (and considering that a huge percentage of silent films are in bad shape or considered lost due to significant damage or nitrate fires), this is the best version to watch of “Stage Struck”.
Mastered from 35mm film elements preserved by the George Eastman Museum and it includes the original two-strip Technicolor prologue and epilogue. The film doesn’t suffer any major damage and overall, the film looks great in HD.
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
“Stage Struck” is presented with English intertitles and features a piano score composed and performed by Andrew Simpson featured in DTS-HD Master Audio.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“Stage Struck” comes with the following special feature:
- Audio Commentary – Featuring an audio commentary by Frederic Lombardi, author of “Allen Dwan and the Rise and Decline of the Hollywood Studios”.
EXTRAS:
Featuring a booklet essay by film historian Farran Smith Nehme.
1925 may have appeared as another year for a wonderful collaboration between director Allan Dwan and popular actress Gloria Swanson, was the most famous actress and fashion icon on the planet. And while she is a professional in the comedy, “Stage Struck”, the year prior was tough for her.
During the filming of her 1925 film “Madame Sans-Gene”, she met her translator and the man who would become her third husband, French aristocrat Henri, Marquis de la Falaise de la Coudraye. And while their marriage would be the talk of 1925, at the time, she was with Falaise in France, her relationship was kept secret because her divorce was not yet finalized with second husband, Herbert K. Somborn (then-president of Equity Pictures Corporation).
During the filming of that film, it was said that Swanson suffered from an appendicitis attack and while media were covering it and news that her health was not doing well after the surgery, in truth, Swanson admitted in her autobiography many years later that what happened behind-the-scenes was that she was pregnant by her soon-to-be husband.
Because this would put Swanson in violation of the morale clause of her movie studio contract and her career would be destroyed, Swanson actually went through a secret abortion. Complications did ensue after that surgery and she nearly died from it. But this was one moment in her life that she would never forgive Hollywood execs for forcing her to do this due to the morale clause.
While Swanson would divorce her second husband and also get married to her new husband in January 1925, it was tough to go through an abortion (which she has said in her autobiography was something that she regretted), but also going through a bitter divorce with her second husband accusing her of adultery with 13 men (including Cecil B. DeMille, Rudolph Valentino, to name a few).
So, that time in her life was troublesome (actually, her life from her first marriage to her affairs later, had her experience all sort of trouble). But if there was one thing that did go well for her, for that time, it was her working relationship with filmmaker Allan Dwan.
“Stage Struck” is fascinating as we get an early two-color Technicolor opening and ending sequence but we also get to see Gloria Swanson showcase her comedic skills. While the fashion icon that many women came out to films in hopes to see the wardrobe she was sporting in the film, for the majority of the film, Swanson plays a poor and clumsy waitress.
It’s her performance that showcases her wonderful physical comedy as a waitress trying to balance a large plate of food or a girl so in love with Orme, that she does whatever is necessary to keep him happy. May it be doing his laundry or preventing another actress from taking her Orme away.
Her ability to use her eyes and facial expression to hypnotize audiences watching her on the big screen, it’s no doubt another film that shows why Gloria Swanson was the most popular actress in the early 1920’s.
The film rides on the shoulders of Swanson’s performance and she does a great job of nailing it. But while a fun and enjoyable film, it’s not her best.
Lawrence Gray did a fine job of playing Orme Wilson and if anything, both he and Swanson had great chemistry onscreen. Gertrude Astor as actress Lillian Lyons also did a good job as the stuck-up actress and was more of the fashionista in the film. And Ford Sterling also played a solid role as the promoter of the stage show.
But the film is heavy on the reliance of Swanson’s comedy and her performance showed why she was the most wanted actress of the time. She owns the screen!
And while the comedy was well-done in the film, there is one scene some may feel that it may be out of place today and that is a scene trying to make comedy of attempted suicide. Some may find the scene to be insensitive.
As for the Blu-ray release, the film looks great for its age. Mastered from 35mm film elements preserved by the George Eastman Museum and it includes the original two-strip Technicolor prologue and epilogue. The film doesn’t suffer any major damage and overall, the film looks great in HD.
The piano score composed and performed by Andrew Simpson was also well-done and the Blu-ray comes with an informative audio commentary by author Fredric Lombardi and a booklet essay by film historian Farran Smith Nehme.
Overall, Allan Dwan’s “Stage Struck” is a film that exemplifies Gloria Swanson’s comedic skills as an actress. She was the most sought-out actress in the world and whenever the camera focused on her, she knew how to captivate audiences. A delightful, lighthearted silent comedy that I recommend!
