Barbed Wire

PolaNegriiseverybitasgoodinBarbedWireascriticshadledmetobelieve.Thisisafinefilm,despitethemelodramaticendingthatalmostseemedtobelongtoa1917silentfilmmorethanonefrom1927.<br/>　　Negriislovelyandquiterestrainedinheracting.CliveBrookissolidasherGermanloveinterest,ifabitstiff–anddefinitelyalittleoldlookingforher.Actually,theonethingthatkeptbotheringmeaboutBrookwasthathelooks(tome)likeaveryyoungForrestTucker!(IkeptexpectinghimtobebeatenupbyaveryyoungJohnWayneortostarthangingoutwithaveryyoungLarryStorch!)DirectorRowlandV.Leeshowssignsofgreatthingstocome.Thestorymoveswellandhasmanymemorablemoments.OnethatwillstaywithmeisthescenewereMonaisleavingthemakeshiftcourtroomaftersavingOskar'slife.Sheisfirsttakenbysurprisebyherneighbors'venom,thenbytheGermanprisoners'adoration.Hersurpriseattheirgestureofrespect(tippingtheircapsandfollowingherinsidethebarbedwirefence)turnstofaintpleasure,butjustasquicklybeginsicingoverintodiscomfort,thenconcern,thenpanic,assherealizesthatthedegreetowhichherenemynowadmiresher,herneighborswillscornher.<br/>　　Iftheendinghadbeenhandledabitdifferently,thisfilmwouldberightupthereamongthebestofthelatesilentclassics,alongsideSunrise,TheCrowd,Faust,TheWindandahandfulofothers.Asitis,Iwouldplaceitinthenexttier,notoneofthehandfulofgreatestsilentfilmsever,butcertainlyoneofthetophandfuloffilmsmadein1927.WhenyouconsiderthatSunrise,Napoleon,MyBestGirl,Metropolis,TheGeneral,SeventhHeaven,TheLovesofJeanneNey,KingofKings,etc.,alldebutedintheYearofLindberg(andBabeRuth),thatisquiteastatementinitself.<br/>　　Thisisdefinitelyafilmforanysilentcinemafanandforanyotherloversofforbiddenromances.Thesilentcinemawastrulypeakinginitsfinalyears.