Films with both Ivor Novello and Mae Marsh.

[Big Silent Fan]

Last week, after viewing Ivor Novello in "Return of the Rat" (1929), YouTube followed that video with D. W. Griffith's, "The White Rose" (1923); Ivor Novello in the lead along with Mae Marsh. This was apparently the only film Novello made in the U. S..
Even more surprising, I learned today, Mae Marsh made "Arabella" (1924) in Germany, before appearing with Novello again in "The Rat" (1925), first of the three British 'Rat' films made with Novello playing 'The Rat'.

Anyone know any details on how Novello appeared in Griffith's film, or how Mae Marsh appeared again with Novello in "The Rat"?

[R Michael Pyle]

Marsh's films for Sam Goldwyn had not been successful. She'd worked in a few after her work for Griffith in the teens. She decided to go to England and work on stage. She appeared in "Brittie" in 1921. She decided to make films in England. She had two successful British films in 1922 and 1923. It's said they were as popular as her films with Griffith. She came back to make "The White Rose" for Griffith, then did the ghastly "Daddies", went to Germany and made "Arabella", then made her final American silent, curiously directed by J. Stuart Blackton. Obviously, after having worked with her, Novello thought she was right for "The Rat". She didn't make the two sequels to "The Rat". Only Isabel Jeans continued with Novello in the series of "Rat" films and made all three. Meanwhile, Marsh retired completely. An edited version of "Arabella" was released in 1928, but The Great Depression drove Marsh to come out of retirement, and she went back to playing secondary films and secondary roles to make a living. She did end up in some fine films later, including classics like "Grapes of Wrath", but the roles were not what she'd done prior.

I don't know what made Novello come to America to film with Griffith.

[Big Silent Fan]

Thanks for the info.

I see all three Novello 'Rat' features seem complete and are on YouTube with music. Perhaps I'll give it a go, trying to watch the remaining (un-restored) features next week.

Travel certainly was more difficult back then, but many film stars did travel abroad often.

[Big Silent Fan]

I watched Griffith's 100 minute long feature, "The White Rose" (1923) today.
I'd read reviews about this film saying it was too long, and that's what I was thinking when I sat down to watch. Turns out I really enjoyed the film just as Griffith told it and was moved by the story. Mae Marsh played the part of a orphan/turned sexpot tease, swinging her hips and making jesters. Of course, this is what someone else instructed her to do.
Novello's character initially compares her to Jezebel, but it's he, a divinity student who gets her pregnant in the story, interweaving three different families.

A very well done film that unfortunately lacks music on YouTube.

Novello's "The Rat" (1925) with Mae Marsh is available with music. I plan to watch that next.

[Trueblood]

I watched Griffith's 100 minute long feature, "The White Rose" (1923) today.
I'd read reviews about this film saying it was too long, and that's what I was thinking when I sat down to watch. Turns out I really enjoyed the film just as Griffith told it and was moved by the story. Mae Marsh played the part of a orphan/turned sexpot tease, swinging her hips and making jesters. Of course, this is what someone else instructed her to do.
Novello's character initially compares her to Jezebel, but it's he, a divinity student who gets her pregnant in the story, interweaving three different families.

A very well done film that unfortunately lacks music on YouTube.

Novello's "The Rat" (1925) with Mae Marsh is available with music. I plan to watch that next.

Opinions may differ. I'm a huge fan of Mae Marsh and she's very good in this film. But, Ivor plays a read cad and it is difficult to endure watching the suffering Mae is subjected to. The killer for me is ... once again ... tolerating Griffith's casting of white actors in black face. Just appalling. Carol Dempster gives, sadly, another ineffectual performance. I gave away my Grapevine DVD of THE WHITE ROSE knowing I'd never be able to stand watching it again. THE RAT is, for me, much more enjoyable. Marsh is marvelous and Ivor's over-the-top gesticulating is actually effective.

David

[R Michael Pyle]

Dug out my old biography of Griffith by Richard Schickel. Griffith was introduced to Ivor Novello through a drama critic while they were all dining at the Savoy Grill in England when Griffith was doing some research. Novello appealed to Griffith as a possible choice for the part because of his reserve and his good looks. Griffith had actually been corresponding with Mae Marsh for nearly two years now and already had her in mind for the part in "The White Rose". Evidently Novello, the Welshman, whose real name was Davies, was thought by Griffith because of his seeming talents, to be a perfect choice. Novello had made a couple of minor films already, none of which had amounted to much. He was much better thought of as a composer of music and a playwright, "a sort of minor Noel Coward", according to Schickel.

[Big Silent Fan]

Opinions may differ. I'm a huge fan of Mae Marsh and she's very good in this film. But, Ivor plays a real cad and it is difficult to endure watching the suffering Mae is subjected to.
David

Yes, Mae Marsh delivered a great performance.
The film's drama is quite difficult to watch, but it's also very important. It represents just how unmarried mothers were treated. In the beginning, Novello's character could only think Bessie was a willing participant from everything he'd seen or heard.
Just as important is Novello's character's initial revulsion to the drunk on the street. He was an idealistic fool like many.
Seeing his transformation, where he later has compassion on the drunk and carries him home shows how far his character had progressed.