Saw 'Vaudeville' being somebody that has for a while been very interested in silent film, recognise their importance in the development of film and have highly appreciated to loved many of them. Some great silent film directors too, at their best in the 1920s (a couple in the 1910s too). Emil Jannings was also to me one of the greatest silent film actors, so imposing and full of life. The concept sounded interesting if not exceptional.
Which is pretty much what sums 'Vaudeville' up. It is a well done and very intriguing film with a lot of brilliant things. At the same time, it is not an exceptional film either, it could easily have been though, and there were things that could have been done quite a lot better. One will find the story easy to criticise, but 'Vaudeville's' influence on some is hard to deny as is the amount of effort that clearly went into it in pretty much every regard.
'Vaudeville' has so much that works in its favour. It looks fantastic, especially the cinematography which takes the breath away at its best. Some very inventive camera angles and the Expressionistic look is so beautiful and haunting. The editing is fluid and near-seamless if not quite revolutionary level like it became with GW Pabst and Abel Gance, while the sets are elaborate and beautifully designed. It is a very well directed film, exceptional at its best.
The trapeze acts especially truly captivated me and made my jaw drop, not just the not-afraid-to-take-risks choreography but even more so the filming. Inducing the right amount of excitement and awe. The other variety acts are well done, are not mundane or indifferently done and capture the fun yet enchanting spirit of the setting. Liked too the film's cynical edge and irony. Jannings is riveting as usual, the intensity and larger than life qualities he brings to his performance not being over-acted. The cast in general do well, though the rest of the cast are not quite in the same league as Jannings.
For all those brilliant things though, 'Vaudeville' had potential to be even better than it was. The storytelling is very slight and incredibly old fashioned, and while starting off beautifully some of the second half is very conventional and sudsy.
Also felt that things started to happen and get resolved too hurriedly and the ending feels too neat. The music doesn't always fit either.
Overall though, much impresses and it is a good film if not a great one. 7/10
Which is pretty much what sums 'Vaudeville' up. It is a well done and very intriguing film with a lot of brilliant things. At the same time, it is not an exceptional film either, it could easily have been though, and there were things that could have been done quite a lot better. One will find the story easy to criticise, but 'Vaudeville's' influence on some is hard to deny as is the amount of effort that clearly went into it in pretty much every regard.
'Vaudeville' has so much that works in its favour. It looks fantastic, especially the cinematography which takes the breath away at its best. Some very inventive camera angles and the Expressionistic look is so beautiful and haunting. The editing is fluid and near-seamless if not quite revolutionary level like it became with GW Pabst and Abel Gance, while the sets are elaborate and beautifully designed. It is a very well directed film, exceptional at its best.
The trapeze acts especially truly captivated me and made my jaw drop, not just the not-afraid-to-take-risks choreography but even more so the filming. Inducing the right amount of excitement and awe. The other variety acts are well done, are not mundane or indifferently done and capture the fun yet enchanting spirit of the setting. Liked too the film's cynical edge and irony. Jannings is riveting as usual, the intensity and larger than life qualities he brings to his performance not being over-acted. The cast in general do well, though the rest of the cast are not quite in the same league as Jannings.
For all those brilliant things though, 'Vaudeville' had potential to be even better than it was. The storytelling is very slight and incredibly old fashioned, and while starting off beautifully some of the second half is very conventional and sudsy.
Also felt that things started to happen and get resolved too hurriedly and the ending feels too neat. The music doesn't always fit either.
Overall though, much impresses and it is a good film if not a great one. 7/10