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LARRY'S 66 DINER :: THE SCREENING ROOM :: SILENT FILMS :: "MANTRAP" (1926) Clara Bow
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rmichaelpyle
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"MANTRAP" (1926) Clara Bow
« Thread Started on Oct 30, 2009, 1:36pm »
I remember as a kid the opening to the TV series "Superman" with the voice going "...stronger than a locomotive, can leap tall buildings in a single bound...", etc. A couple of nights ago I watched super energized Clara Bow in "Mantrap" (1926), and all I can say is that Superman holds nothing on Miss Bow. Also, the definition of pre-code may have come about with films like this one. Clara leaves little to the imagination by leaving lots to the imagination with her movements and her body language and, frankly, the plot of this film - ah, 'flirting'. Uh-huh... In the long run, it may seem, by today's standards, a harmless piece of fluff, but this still packs whollop in the end if you think long enough about it. It's very good, very well done - and directed by Victor Fleming. Clara plays a girl from Minneapolis (circa the twenties, remember) who gets married to country bumpkin (with the wisdom of Plato) Ernest Torrence (now there's a combination!) and moves to Mantrap, Canada. Along comes Percy Marmont and the flames - begin? Evidently Clara has a habit of "flirting". Her husband puts up with it to a point. Anyway, Clara takes off with Percy when he has to leave - it's more complicated than I'm making it sound - and the complications really get going. In the end it's all fun and fluff and nothing too serious happens - so the movie says...

This is a fairly short (an hour and a half - not quite) and fast and fun film, with Clara acting at the speed of light and with enough energy for five films. One can easily see why Clara Bow was the most popular actress in Hollywood history in that era. She received more fan mail than anyone ever in the history of Hollywood. I'd have written her, too, had I been alive in those days! (Ahem!) Others in the cast include Eugene Pallette, Josephine Crowell (looking like a heavy-set crow and playing a character you'd like to choke!), William Orlamond, Charles Stevens (grandson of Geronimo in real life and good friend of Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.), along with several others, including Ford Sterling in a bit.

I have an old VHS print of this that is almost dead. It was never much alive. This new DVD is a "restored" print from Sunrise Silents, and its quality is very, very good. I wouldn't top it off with "great", but it is very, very good. Very enjoyable, and the musical piano score quite fitting and fun. If you're a Bow fan, you'll love her romping around in this one, and I highly recommend it. If you only like Bow, this might be just a little much. If you don't know Clara Bow - watch out, Nellie!!
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gagman66
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Re: "MANTRAP" (1926) Clara Bow
« Reply #1 on Nov 3, 2009, 2:50am »

R.Michael,

:D I highly recommend the Sunrise Silents release of MANTRAP, and HULA is probably an even better quality print. Both are pretty comparable in image clarity to the Milestone DVD of "IT". which is the Thames Silents version.

;) Read about what Silent Era had to say concerning these releases at the following links. Also Colleen Moore's ELLA CINDERS as well. All three are exceptionally good transfers.


http://www.silentera.com/video/mantrapHV.html

http://www.silentera.com/video/hulaHV.html

http://www.silentera.com/video/ellaCindersHV.html



« Last Edit: Nov 3, 2009, 9:23am by gagman66 »Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
rmichaelpyle
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Re: "MANTRAP" (1926) Clara Bow
« Reply #2 on Nov 3, 2009, 5:40am »
I bought all three at the same time, so when I've seen the other two I'll put in a word for them, too.
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gagman66
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Re: "MANTRAP" (1926) Clara Bow
« Reply #3 on Nov 3, 2009, 9:22am »

R.Michael,

I wonder what the Sunrise print of the Bessie Love feature RUBBER TIRES is like? I have the Grapevine version and the print isn't very good.
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Re: "MANTRAP" (1926) Clara Bow
« Reply #4 on Nov 5, 2009, 8:53pm »
I remember Ella Cinder they play long long time ago on my local PBS station back in early 1990s some rock star did video with talk going out your mind I think dude was Matt Wilder he something like Rick Springfield he use that clip from Ella with chic eyes are mix up in his video I remember that
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Re: "MANTRAP" (1926) Clara Bow
« Reply #5 on Nov 7, 2009, 11:30am »
I hear rumor on TCM Forum Gagman I hear we don't have the right for restoration I want see that again I saw too on LONG LONG TIME AGO back in 1980s on my local PBS station see one of my PBS station for a time show silent movie on Saturday night late night around 10pm that what I remember about my pre teen hood
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Re: "MANTRAP" (1926) Clara Bow
« Reply #6 on Nov 7, 2009, 5:30pm »

Quote:
This new DVD is a "restored" print from Sunrise Silents, and its quality is very, very good. I wouldn't top it off with "great", but it is very, very good.


This sounds like good news. I agree that Mantrap is a good picture, and a good showcase for Clara Bow's charm - although never was it more apparent that the studios wouldn't "waste" stars by having more than one of them in a film at a time! She didn't seem to get good romantic partners very often. Oh well. My copy is very fuzzy, although with good will you can watch it. I'm glad to hear there is now a better version available.
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Larry's 66 Diner
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Re: "MANTRAP" (1926) Clara Bow
« Reply #7 on Nov 15, 2009, 7:45am »
Ummm .... has Clara Bow ever made a bad picture? 8-)

Thanks for the great review, Michael! [image]
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