Movie spotlight
The Nth Commandment
A department store clerk decides to marry a withdrawing colleague with tuberculosis, over another dashing, ambitious suitor, leads to a life of hardship and struggle. Though The Nth Commandment survives incomplete, enough exists of director Frank Borzage’s last film while under contract with William Randolph Hearst’s Cosmopolitan Pictures for scholar Hervé Dumont to declare “it the first truly Borzagian work.”
Insights
Plot Summary
This silent film tells the story of Anne Vincent, a young woman who is tempted by the allure of wealth and social standing. She finds herself caught between the genuine affection of a struggling artist and the superficial promises of a wealthy socialite. Anne must ultimately decide which path leads to true happiness and fulfillment.
Critical Reception
As a silent film from 1923, contemporary critical reception is difficult to ascertain definitively. However, films of this era often focused on melodrama and romantic entanglements, themes that 'The Nth Commandment' appears to explore. Modern assessments would likely view it through the lens of early Hollywood filmmaking and its dramatic conventions.
What Reviewers Say
Early silent dramas often featured strong female leads navigating societal pressures.
The film likely explored themes of love versus material wealth.
Visual storytelling and emotional melodrama were hallmarks of the period.
Google audience: As this is a silent film from 1923, there are no readily available Google user reviews or summaries.
Fun Fact
William C. deMille, the director, was the elder brother of Cecil B. DeMille, another prominent director of the silent era. While Cecil was known for his epics, William often directed more intimate dramas.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources