The Garden Of Eden

When I mentioned a friend that I had ordered through Amazon.com, Corinne Griffith's DVD of "The Garden of Eden" (1928-United Artists), the only of her movies available on the market, on any "format" (VHS/DVD/Laserdisc too?)...and one of the few chances to watch this silent legend in her glory (TCM is the only channel? which airs sometimes, two of her films: Frank Lloyd's "The Divine Lady" and "Back Pay"?), she went in awe, I think she said she was going to buy it or rent it right away!!

Well, I have seen the DVD in its entirety, and Silent Film Lovers, this is a Gem, a "Fabergé Egg".

This Comedy-Drama is truly highly enjoyable, It made smile & laugh lots of times, it's charming, cute, elegant, I don't know..I haven't seen too many silent films, but I feel this one belongs to the "superior" category. It has sort of a kind of "Lubistch's" touch...Lewis Milestone's direction is deft.

Corinne's interpretation of a viennesse ingenue who travels to Budapest to become an Opera Star is so good! I didn't expect that much....The Cast is great: Lowell Sherman as a lecherous Rich Man, Marvellous Louise Dresser as the heroine's sort of "surrogate" mother, Charles Ray as her love interest, Edward Martindel (great as Charles Ray's Uncle)....Maude George...Won't tell you anymore about the plot, don't want to give away its surprises.

The Bonuses are a topic apart. Never had seen so much "worthwhile" bonuses: extensive text excerpts, lobby cards, memorabilia, promotional stuff, from the original press book of the film, etc. Contemporary (1928) biographies of all the six principal players. Lots of info!!!

The digitally recorded score by the composer Robert Israel, is grandiose...excellent, what a joy to watch this film with such a "right" score, which also "sounds" so well.

The print is in-all very good, there are some portions which are more damaged, but in the whole, it's greatly restored. I'd say the quality of the copy, surpasses what they did with "Sunrise"...It's quality is similar to "Evangeline's" (1929-Image), perhaps a little inferior, but I repeat, in the whole great.

There are also original promotional photographs and production stills from the state of Lewis Milestone.

Furthermore, there's a lost bi-color technicolor dream sequence of Corinne, when she's travelling by train (where she imagines herself as a "Prima Donna"), which is thoroughly analyzed in an "exploration", which contains still photos, original press book excerpts and promotional images.

And if all this wasn't enough, you get two shorts, one filmed in early bi-color technicolor...a charming cutie called "The Toy Shop", a tale made by Tiffany-Stahl Studios (of Poverty Row) and another one, sort of a "documentary" of architectural styles & "pop culture" in 1927 Hollywood & L.A. (B&W or sepia toned) called "Hollywood The Unusual", a sort of travelogue of a lost era!

In all a experience not to be missed! Really, this time when you read on the cover of the DVD: "DeLuxe DVD Edition", it is true as it is stated!

A must!!

From the first frame, I loved GARDEN OF EDEN (Flicker Alley).

This fabulous silent comedy plays like vintage jazz from the Roaring 20s, always engaging, witty and full of surprises.

Sheltered but with a diploma in opera, Toni LeBrun (Corrine Griffith) leaves the Vienna bakery of her aunt and uncle ("I could never be satisfied making pretzels all my life") and gets a job in a dubious cabaret in Budapest. Naively hoping to practice her craft, she's unaware that she has in fact been hired as a chorus dancer at the Palais de Paris by the deliciously mannish and menacing Madame Bauer (Maude George). Toni escapes to Monte Carlo's fancy Hotel Eden where sophisticated slapstick ensues as Toni gets embroiled in wanted and unwanted suitors and tires to keep from being exposed beofere the right guy asks for her hand.

This is the most complete version of Garden of Eden with a fine new score by silent film specialist Robert Isreal.

The Garden of Eden was produced entirely on the United Artist lot in late 1927, which at the time was located along Santa Monica Blvd in what is now West Hollywood.

Besides extensive texts, lobby cards, production stills and period press books, extras include two short films from the era: Hollywood The Unusual, a previously unknown travelogue that looks at LA's fantastic vernacular architecture; and The Toy Shoppe, a rare two-color technicolor short photographed by renowned cinematographer Ray Rennahan.

Highly recommended.

I am second to none in my admiration for Corinne Griffith, the exquisitely beautiful actress who was probably one of the ten leading female stars of the American silent screen. She was also widley considered to be the most beautiful star of the silent screen. Sadly, only a handful of her films are known to survive and only two or three get any sort of circulation at all (THE DIVINE LADY and BACK PAY are shown on Turner Classic Movies about once every other year). So needless to say I rejoice that one of Corinne's greatest triumphs, the 1928 comedy THE GARDEN OF EDEN has been released on DVD with a nice print. Corinne plays a destitute showgirl who passes herself off as royalty. This movie is so charming, the finest romantic comedy ever made during the silent years. Corinne's leading men are two big stars from the era also unjustly underrated: Charles Ray and Lowell Sherman. If you love the Claudette Colbert and Carole Lombard comedies of the 1930's, you will be surprised to see how much they owe to this underrated gem.

One not so little quibble. The star's name is CORINNE Griffith not CORRINE Griffith as listed on the DVD. This error happens quite often in film histories. (Corinne is in at least great company; Katharine Hepburn thoroughout her legendary career had people mispelling her name as "Katherine".) It's also good to see a silent movie on DVD that is not overpriced yet still is given a class production.