Movie spotlight
Square Shoulders
Tad's dream is to attend a military academy so he can grow up to be a great soldier and a war hero, like his father. What he doesn't know is that his father, Slag, is actually a thief and a derelict. Slag robs a factory in order to get the money to send Tad to military school, then gets a job at the academy's horse stables to be close to his son, who doesn't know he's alive.
Insights
Plot Summary
A young woman inherits a controlling interest in her father's business, leading to conflict with the established male board members. She must navigate the challenges of leadership while also dealing with a complex romantic entanglement. The film explores themes of ambition, independence, and societal expectations for women in the business world of the late 1920s.
Critical Reception
Square Shoulders received mixed reviews upon its release. While some critics praised its timely themes of female empowerment and the lead performance, others found its plot predictable and its dramatic resolutions somewhat contrived. It was generally considered a competently made, if not groundbreaking, film of its era, notable for its portrayal of a modern, independent woman.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its modern portrayal of a woman in business.
Criticized for a somewhat formulaic plot and resolution.
Thomas Meighan's performance was noted as a strong point.
Google audience: Audience reception information for this early film is not readily available.
Fun Fact
Although released in 1929, 'Square Shoulders' was filmed using the relatively new Vitaphone sound-on-disc system, making it one of the later silent films transitioning to sound during this period.
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