The smart one

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Movie
German title The smart one
Original title West Point
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1928
length 70 minutes
Rod
Director Edward Sedgwick
script Raymond L. Schrock
production Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
music William ax
camera Ira Morgan
cut Frank Sullivan
occupation

Der Schlauberger (OT: West Point ) is an American silent film from 1928 with William Haines and Joan Crawford . The film was shot outside at the United States Military Academy at West Point .

action

Brice Wayne passed the West Point military academy entrance exam. But his haughty and know-it-all manner alienates him from his comrades. Only Betty Channing, the daughter of a hotelier, sees a good person behind the facade. But when Brice's selfish behavior causes the defeat of the West Point football team, Betty also turns away from Brice.

Brice finally realizes the value of team spirit and discipline. He is gradually gaining the trust of his comrades and superiors and can lead the team to victory in the all-important game for the championship. Betty forgives him and they both hug.

background

Joan Crawford had been with MGM since 1925 and quickly rose to become a popular actress. However, she had not yet found a fixed type of role for herself and so she alternated between main and supporting roles in a wide variety of genres. Since mid-1927 she was firmly established as the leading lady alongside the studio's biggest male stars, with John Gilbert in Twelve Miles Out , Lon Chaney in The Unknown and William Haines in Spring Fever . After the positive response to Spring Fever , the studio tried to launch Haines and Crawford as a screen pair . Overall, however, the audience preferred Haines in solo roles and Joan Crawford managed to rise to the star herself through Our Dancing Daughters .

William Haines had seen a rapid rise to become one of Hollywood's most popular male stars since appearing with Crawford in Sally, Irene and Mary in 1925. He was mostly used in stories in which he had to give up his initially arrogant behavior in order to grow up and gain the love of his partner and respect for the environment. West Point was shot on the United States Military Academy site in the summer of 1927 , but did not go on public sale until January 1928. During the filming, both Crawford and Haines, who never made a secret of his same-sex tendencies, are said to have had numerous affairs with the cadets.

Joan Crawford was realistic about her subordinate role:

"... that was Bill Haines movie, nothing for me."

Theatrical release

At $ 205,000, it was a below-average production by MGM standards. The film grossed a respectable amount of $ 502,000 in the US, an indication of William Haines' growing pull at the box office. With foreign income of $ 190,000 and a cumulative total result of $ 692,000, Der Schlauberger became the actor's most successful film to date, following last year's success Tell It to the Marines . In the end, the studio was able to realize a profit of $ 238,000.

Reviews

Most of the critics complained about the film and found it banal.

Mordaunt Hall stated in the New York Times :

“A story about an upright young man in the United States Military Academy should be believable and low-key, and those two qualities don't have to be at odds with entertainment value. The offer at hand is boring and often shameful. Joan Crawford is quite charming as Betty Channing, who is drawn to Wayne for some inexplicable reason. "

literature

  • Roy Newquist (Ed.): Conversations with Joan Crawford . Citadel Press, Secaucus, NJ 1980, ISBN 0-8065-0720-9 .
  • Lawrence J. Quirk : The Complete Films of Joan Crawford . Citadel Press, Secaucus, NJ 1988, ISBN 0-8065-1078-1 .
  • Lawrence J. Quirk, William Schoell: Joan Crawford. The Essential Biography . University Press, Lexington, KY. 2002, ISBN 0-8131-2254-6 .
  • Alexander Walker: Joan Crawford. The Ultimate Star . Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London 1983, ISBN 0-297-78216-9 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ … Bill Haines' picture, a throwaway for me.
  2. ^ A story dealing with the fine young men at the United States Military Academy should be plausible and dignified, and these qualities would not make it any the less entertaining. The present offering is tedious and often annoying. Joan Crawford is quite charming as Betty Channing, the girl who for some unexplained reason finally learns to love Wayne.