mlink-36-9815 *****************************If louis b. mayer is the man who lived too long. ************ He was a horrible person who made the world worse. *********************************

wes-connors On a windy night, a group of eight men introduced only as a "Certain Brotherhood" meet to decide whether or not to murder the latest subject of their investigation. Among the clandestine group's members are sullen artist Lon Chaney (as Farallone) and his good-looking rival John Bowers (as Forrest). We quickly learn both men are in love with the group's absent ninth member, and only female, lovely Leatrice Joy (as Lilith), who has given the group permission to proceed without her.While working undercover as a waiter for three month, Mr. Bowers has had the opportunity to observe the group's latest target. When asked his opinion on the man's worth, Bowers states, "Each day this man grows greater in vainglory and cruelty. He has lived too long!" Mr. Chaney, who has been working on the man's portrait, agrees, "He has lived a thousand times too long! Death!" the group votes unanimously to kill their hated enemy Raymond Hatton (as "The Menace").Their weapon will be a bomb, which can be set to explode in five minutes. The members are aware the job could prove fatal, but consider it an honor to die for "The Cause". To decide who will be responsible for the latest killing, the group employ their regular method. It is explained, "According to our ancient custom, the man who has lived too long will be put to death by that one among us to whom shall be dealt the Ace of Hearts." Expect sacrifice, betrayal, and the unexpected…"The Ace of Hearts" re-teams star Chaney, director Wallace Worsley and writer Gouverneur Morris; the trio who had just unleashed the marvelously grotesque "The Penalty" (1920) on an unsuspecting public. Wisely deciding not to even attempt performing a similar stunt, they went for a lower key. But, while "The Acre of Heats" has everyone looking more like upstanding citizens, the filmmakers dealt "The Ace of Hearts" from the bottom of the deck. Here, sordidness looks sweeter.The three lugubrious and emoting star players are all terrorists, and proudly so; whatever you think of the circumstances involving the bombings within the story, we are told that this group routinely carries out these murders. And, however implausible the events on screen seem, they are certainly captivating. Cinematographer Donovan Short gives it a glow-in-the-dark" look. Also note how effectively "extras" Cullen Landis and Raymond Hatton represent good and evil, in the restaurant scene.********* The Ace of Hearts (9/17/21) Wallace Worsley ~ Lon Chaney, Leatrice Joy, John Bowers, Cullen Landis

sol- An intriguing silent Lon Chaney thriller, it is a weak film plot-wise, with heavy-handed messages and a lame moral, but Chaney is excellent in it, with his very expressive face, and there are many intense moments even when what is happening is not well explained. In fact, the lacking character and plot detail makes it more fascinating to view. The basic story is conventional but it has mystery elements worked well into it. The restoration soundtrack is very good too, and for its time, it is quite well made overall. Well melded flashbacks through dissolves and bird's eye view photography are among the techniques cleverly used in the film.

slyboots2 I think it's a mistake to compare silent movies in general to modern films. The medium is just plain different- subtlety isn't a strong point- kind of like vaudeville. This movie is a great little snippet of history. The story- about anarchists preparing to assassinate a "bad man" is very current for its time- only 3 years after WWI- caused by the assassination of a world figure by an anarchist. So, the message of the movie, that love trumps anarchy was current, and timely. Lon Chaney was a master of silent emoting- and yes, perhaps the acting seems stylized and mannered, but taken in context, it's a great deal of fun. It's also an interesting portrayal of a woman within a political movement- first as an ideologue detached from love and romance and then as a woman consumed by her passion and ready for her husband to abandon his principles to remain at her side. She's in some ways the villain of this piece- and in some ways the hero. Very nice shades of ethical grays.