This was made right at the crossover from silent to sound, Weary River is a mix of title cards and actual soundtrack of the actors' voices. Richard Barthelmess is Larrabee, who is sent to jail for a crime he didn't really do. the girlfriend Alice is Betty Compson.Barthelmess and Compson had both been around since the early days of silents and easily made the switch to talkies. while in prison, Larrabee puts together a music recital, and becomes a model prisoner. the song he sings is Weary River! and when he gets out, Larrabee is about to take revenge on the guys who put him in. can Alice stop him from falling into his old ways? it's simple. cute. and historically interesting, for the new talking picture technology alone. and Barthelmess WAS a pretty big star. maybe Turner Classic will show this one more often. directed by Frank Lloyd; nominated for best director! was oscar winning, but oddly, not for his best, biggest film, Mutiny on the Bounty.
Review of Weary River
