Lady of the Night (1925)

I just happened to turn the channel to TCM last Sunday evening and I'm so glad I did because I was able to catch Lady of the Night, which aired as part of their regular Silent Sunday Nights feature.

Released by MGM in 1925, the film stars Norma Shearer in a dual good girl/bad girl role. The first few minutes of the film introduce us to "bad girl" Molly Helmer who is born into a poor family with a convict for a father. Coincidentally, the judge who sends Molly's father to prison (Judge Banning played by Fred Esmelton) becomes a father at the exact same time when his wife gives birth to "good girl" Florence.

Fast forward eighteen years and the two little girls have grown into two young ladies: Molly is just leaving reform school at the same time Florence graduates from a ritzy private school. Florence has a lovely house and well-to-do father waiting for her, but Molly must take care of herself, so she takes a job as a taxi dancer at a local dance hall.

One night at the dance hall, Molly is harassed by an aggressive dance partner and her boyfriend, Chunky (George K. Arthur) attempts to defend her honor, but he is knocked down to the floor. Chunky's friend David Page (Malcolm McGregor) quickly steps in and saves the day, earning Molly's admiration in the process.

It doesn't take long for Molly to fall for David, and although he remains oblivious to her feelings, Chunky is very much aware of the situation and all he can do is sit back and watch his ladylove pine for another. The three spend quite a lot of time together and we learn that David is an inventor who has just put the finishing touches on a device that can unlock any safe. Chunky suggests David sell his invention to a criminal gang he knows, but Molly urges him to sell the device to a bank instead.

David does as Molly suggests and meets with a group of bank directors, one of whom is Judge Banning, Florence's father. In fact, the meeting takes place at the judge's home and at the conclusion of the meeting, David bumps into Florence on his way out. The two are instantly smitten with each other. From there we must wait and see how this mess of a love triangle (quadrangle, really) will play out...

Norma Shearer is a delight as Molly Helmer, the bad girl with a heart of gold. The role really suited her well. Florence's character was a bit colorless by comparison - a good girl with a heart of gold isn't nearly as interesting as a bad girl with a heart of gold! Seeing Shearer as a vamp with dark hair, dark makeup, painted-on beauty marks and a giant plumed headpiece was a lot of fun to watch.

Malcolm McGregor makes a handsome David (even though he is somewhat dense in his ignorance of Molly's very obvious feelings) and I enjoyed George K. Arthur in the role of Chunky Dunn. Chunky is loyal and sweet and you just feel so bad for him! 

Lady of the Night was Joan Crawford's first movie appearance and if it weren't for Ben Mankiewicz's intro at the beginning of the film I would never have known she was in it. She acted as Norma Shearer's body double - the "other Norma" whenever Molly and Florence are in a scene together - so we never see her face, just the back of her head a handful of times!

Overall I really liked Lady of the Night and found it to be surprisingly moving, especially considering the film is only about an hour long. I look forward to revisiting this one soon.