I just saw this film as part of TCM's Women Pioneer Filmmakers Series. What a fascinating woman Alice Guy Blache was! And what a shame (although that isn't a strong enough word) that her legacy is not well-known to the public. This film is quite enchanting--parts of it reminded me of "Broken Blossoms" (1919). But while it has elements of tragedy, and even a dark streak of incest courtesy of the foster father, there are tender and light-hearted moments of comedy that keep it from bogging into too much sentiment. Guy's motto was "Be Natural", and it's amazing how well the actors in her company took this to heart--there is very little of the histrionic style of acting in this film, which makes it so much easier for a modern audience to watch.
Alice Guy Blache's films should be revived, they should be available on VHS and DVD, and her legacy needs to be recognized!
Alice Guy Blache's films should be revived, they should be available on VHS and DVD, and her legacy needs to be recognized!