Sally Of The Sawdust
by D.W. Griffith
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Carol Dempster, W.C. FieldsDirector: D.W. Griffith
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, DVD-Video, NTSC, Original recording remastered, Silent
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 113 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-11-18
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: KINO INTERNATIONAL
Movie Reviews of Sally Of The Sawdust
Movie Review: score by Donald Sosin !!
Summary: 4 Stars
This Kino edition comes with a score by Donald Sosin ! That's reason enough to pre-order, even if you've seen the film, or even if you own it -- even if you think the film itself is a bit incoherent. It's got some good Fields moments in it, and Dempster in a dream of a gown, and some very melodramatic Griffith titles.
The scoring by Sosin alone makes this a must-have.
Summary of Sally Of The Sawdust
FROM A 35mm ARCHIVE PRINTIn a fascinating departure from the austere moral drama in which he specialized, D.W. Griffith demonstrates his talent for warm-hearted comedy with SALLY OF THE SAWDUST. Fresh from the Ziegfeld Follies, W.C. Fields made his second screen appearance as Professor Eustace McGargle, a lovably disreputable confidence man who becomes the unlikely guardian of an orphaned circus waif (Carol Dempster). Intending to return Sally to her grandparents, McGargle learns that her wealthy and esteemed grandfather (Erville Alderson) is a stern judge who harbors a deep contempt for shysters and show people. Faster than a sucker can say three-card monte, McGargle finds himself wanted by the police and chased by bootleggers, while trying to protect his cherished Sally, who has won the affection of a slumming socialite (Alfred Lunt). SALLY provided Griffith ingenue Carol Dempster (whose work for the director is generally overshadowed by that of her predecessors, Mary Pickford and Lillian Gish) with a delightful role: the spry, innocent and hot-tempered dancing girl wholly devoted to her criminal Poppy. At the same time, it showcases the comic juggling and dry wit that would make a legend of W.C. Fields (who remade the film in 1936 under the title of the original play, Poppy. )
- Filmed introduction by Orson Welles
- Theatrical trailer
- Image gallery
Although D.W. Griffith was best known for directing serious epics with a social conscience, the master of silent cinema was no slouch when it came to heartwarming comedies. Griffith's 1925 feature Sally of the Sawdust is further distinguished by its starring role for comedian W.C. Fields, reprising a role he originated on stage in Dorothy Donnelly's play Poppy. Fields had been firmly established in vaudeville as a gifted comedian and juggler, and those skills are readily apparent in this sweet-natured story about a young circus waif named Sally (latter-day Griffith ingenue Carol Dempster). Sally's mother was rejected by her wealthy father for marrying into show business, then died during childbirth, leaving Sally to be raised by lovable circus performer and con artist J. Eustace McGargle (Fields). Destiny eventually brings Sally back to the luxurious home of her grandparents, who remain unaware that she is family. Legal hassles erupt when McGargle is accused of fraud, and matters are further complicated when a local socialite falls for Sally's considerable charms. Only the truth of Sally's lineage can save her and McGargle from jail, and Griffith milks this amusing melodrama for all it's worth. Propelled by a wonderful piano score adapted from the film's original 1925 cue sheets and performed by Philip Carli, this delightful silent has been faithfully preserved and remains highly entertaining. It's fascinating as W.C. Fields's first screen success (he later remade this film as Poppy in 1936), and the little-known Dempster proves to be a charming comedienne in her own right. The DVD transfer is remarkably pristine, retaining the tinting of the film's original release. --Jeff Shannon
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