| ~Mockery~ 1927 |
| ~Plot Synopsis~ |
| This 1927 film directed by Danish director Benjamin Christensen is set in Siberia during the Russian Revolution. Lon Chaney portrays a half-witted peasant Sergei whom discovers a young girl alone (Countess Tatiana Alexandrova disguised as a peasant girl) played by Barbara Bedford. The Countess convinces Sergei to escort her to the city and to tell anyone they meet along the way that she is his wife. Soon the couple is discovered by the Bolsheviks and Sergei is beaten nearly to death before the Russian army arrives to save them both. In the city, Tatiana is offered to stay at the luxurious home of The Gaidaroff’s. As she waits at the hospital to check on her hero and new friend Sergei, Tatiana meets a Captain of the army, Demitri, played by Ricardo Cortez. Now, only Cortez’ good looks could survive the pick-up line “If you are deaf and dumb, you can make signs.” But soon, Tatiana and the Captain are falling madly in love. When Sergei recovers and shows up at the Gaidaroff’s home to see his new friend, Tatiana arranges employment for Sergei as a servant for the Gaidaroff’s and considers their relationship is at its end. Sergei soon becomes under the influence of The Gaidaroff’s gate keeper Ivan, skillfully played by Charles Puffy. Ivan monopolizes on Sergei’s affections for The Countess. He tells Sergei that due to the impending revolution that he will be as good as any man and that Tatiana will be his for the taking. Outside the gate walls, the revolution comes to town. As many city dwellers desert the town, Mr. & Mrs. Gaidaroff and Tatiana await their dinner. But the servants, knowing the revolution is coming soon, no longer feel the necessity to wait on their employers. In many scenes Mrs. Gaidaroff implores Sergei to do his work and get the other staff to work by calling him an “idiot.” But not only does this not work it incites Sergei’s feelings of inadequacies and fuels his anger. When The Gairaroff’ s also decide to desert, the only remaining residents are Sergei and Tatiana. Sergei feels empowered to make Tatiana his own, and Tatiana fights him off to the best of her ability. Just when things couldn’t get worst, the Bolsheviks search the home and find both Tatiana and Sergei. Before the Bolsheviks can do much harm, the army led by Demitri, arrives to save them both. Demitri orders the death of a Bolshevik, but before putting Sergei to death, recognizes him. He asks Tatiana if Sergei was loyal. Tatiana knows that this is her chance to get rid of Sergei, but then glances down to his chests and sees the scars that he bears due to defending her not so long ago. She tells Demetri that not only was Sergei loyal, but he was protecting her from the Bolsheviks. As the Captain needs to move on, he leaves his beloved Tatiana with Sergei to protect watch over her. Sergei finally seems content that Tatiana and Demetri were made for each other and that by Tatiana showing Sergei forgiveness, she truly is a friend. Written by Kay Shackleton |
| Directed by: Benjamin Christensen Written by: Benjamin Christensen - story Stig Esbern - story Joseph Farnham - titles Bradley King - writer |
| ~Cast~ Lon Chaney ... Sergei Barbara Bedford ... Countess Tatiana Alexandrova Ricardo Cortez ... Captain Dimitri Mack Swain ... Vladimir Gaidaroff Emily Fitzroy ... Mrs. Gaidaroff Charles Puffy ... Ivan - the Gatekeeper Kai Schmidt ... Butler Johnny Mack Brown ... Russian Officer Albert Conti ... Military Commandant at Novokursk (uncredited) Jules Cowles ... Peasant who robs Tatiana (uncredited) Frank Leigh ... Outlaw Peasant in Cabin (uncredited) Buddy Rae ... Russian Soldier (uncredited) |
| ~Other Credits~ Produced by MGM Settings by Cedric Gibbons & Alexander Toluboff Wardrobe by Gilbert Clark Photographed by Merritt B. Gerstad Film Editing by John W. English |
| ~320-1-44: Lon Chaney~ |
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| ~320-82: Barbara Bedford & Lon Chaney~ |
