Human curiosity is one of those primal feelings that the aristocracy share with coarse people; the more bizarre and obscure the subject, the more interested are the aristocrats. Strange places are especially fascinating even if such locales are the slums, the very opposite of aristocratic neighbourhoods.
But to travel to the slums is a dangerous outing so in order to satisfy aristocratic curiosity about these nether regions (while not overlooking the need for protection on these peculiar journeys) aristocrats need an expert guide to be able to take a safe walk on the wild side ( as an old German proverb says) so how can one do better than turning to Herr Tod Browning?.
Thanks to Herr Browning’s expertise, this Herr Von recently watched (from a safe distance) slum specimens like unscrupulous pawnbrokers, greedy landladies, violent waiters, hardened criminals, ruined men and working girls, all bizarre and curious fauna for an aristocrat ( especially the working girls) that are depicted carefully in the film “The Wicked Darling” (1919).
It is well-known that Herr Browning had a special likeness for those underprivileged persons who were the main characters of many of his films, works that could be great or obscure but were always astounding and unique. “The Wicked Darling” is one of his early silent films that is also one of Herr Browning’s many collaborations with Herr Lon Chaney; they were a perfect team.
The film is characteristic of many of Herr Browning films and also displays a sarcastic sense of humour that this Herr Graf likes specially (Surely the ending is meant as a joke with our gutter heroes finding a new and peaceful life as farmers, surrounded by impassive cows rather than dangerous criminals...).
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must return to the peaceful isolation ward at the Schloss.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien
http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/
"The Wicked Darling" (1919) By Tod Browning
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Ferdinand Von Galitzien
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R Michael Pyle
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When I first saw this, I was captivated by Chaney's hoodlum; how absolutely mean he was, especially his facial gestures. I think this film is horrifically underrated, and it should be much better known, but there is so much deterioration in the film and far too many artifacts for many to sit through it without some reservations. I have no idea if they can be 'fixed' or not to any degree. But I agree, a wonderful film.
