Movie spotlight
Lawless Love
Vaudeville artist LaBelle Geraldine and her dancing partner, Freddie Montgomery, are stranded in Arizona when their troupe breaks up. In order to raise money, Geraldine orders Freddie to impersonate masked bandit Black Jim so that she may turn him in and collect the $2,000 reward. When the real Black Jim holds up her coach, Geraldine, believing that he is Freddie, boldly pulls out her gun, whereupon the bandit shoots her in the wrist and takes her to his cabin. Later Freddie, too, is captured, but when members of the gang insult Geraldine, he refuses to protect her. Gradually Black Jim falls in love with her, and she comes to admire him so deeply that instead of seizing a chance to escape one night, she returns to warn him of the gang's plot to kill him.
Insights
Plot Summary
A young woman named Ruth is forced into a life of crime and deceit when she becomes entangled with a wealthy and unscrupulous man. As she navigates a world of betrayal and passion, she must confront her own desires and the consequences of her choices. The film explores themes of forbidden love and the corrupting influence of power.
Critical Reception
Information on the critical reception of 'Lawless Love' from 1918 is scarce due to the age of the film and limited archival records. However, silent films of this era often received reviews that focused on melodrama, acting, and moral themes. It is presumed to have been received as a typical dramatic romance of its time.
What Reviewers Say
Melodramatic performances were common and often praised.
The film likely touched upon societal norms and moral dilemmas of the period.
Visual storytelling and emotional intensity were key elements of silent film reviews.
Google audience: As this is a silent film from 1918, there are no available Google user reviews to summarize.
Fun Fact
Rupert Julian, the director, would go on to have a controversial career, most notably with the 1925 version of 'The Phantom of the Opera'.
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