Reviews of silent film releases on home video. Copyright © 1999-2024 by Carl Bennett and the Silent Era Company. All Rights Reserved.

Lady of the Night (1925)

Norma Shearer tackles a dual role in this Monta Bell romance that also features Malcolm McGregor and George K. Arthur.

The title implies a direction the story might go but the filmmakers have soft pedaled any smarmy aspects in favor of a portrait of a character who momentarily seeks to rise above her rough childhood circumstances.

Shearer plays a coarse orphan in her early twenties in New York (presumably) and a privileged daughter of a successful banker who both happen to fall in love with a handsome young inventor (McGregor). As might be expected, there is no end of martyrdom for love from either character but Shearer nonetheless manages to bring compassion to both. McGregor is his usual unengaging self and this role gives further evidence why his career didn’t amount to much. The second star of the film is George K. Arthur who is impossible not to like. Character actress Dale Fuller has a thankless minor role as a spinster aunt.

One of these days we are going to record the amount of Shearer’s screen time in this obvious starring vehicle as it feels that she occupies the entire film. While it is no cinematic blockbuster, this film is a worthwhile diversion on a rainy day.

— Carl Bennett