The Bells

Rating:
Summary: Think "Tell-Tale Heart" meets "Cabinet of Dr. Caligari"
Review: "The Bells" is an interesting 1926 silent horror film that strikes me as a cross between Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" and the German expressionist film "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari." See if you can tell why from this description of the plot. Once upon a time Mathias (Lionel Barrymore), an innkeeper, murders a rich Polish traveler staying at his inn. However, his conscience keeps bothering Mathias who is haunted by the murdered man's ghost. The victim's brother has his own suspicions and brings a sideshow mesmerist (Boris Karloff), who can supposedly read minds. During the inquest the mesmerist stares at Mathias, who can not escape his own guilt. This 1926 film was one of the last directed by James Young, who became making silent adaptations of Shakespeare plays. "The Bells" is simple, but effective, and a climax that offers Boris Karloff staring accusingly at Mr. Potter from "It's a Wonderful Life" does have its moments. Certainly worth a look on the score alone. Despite the affinity with Poe's classic short story, "The Bells" was a fairly well-known 19th-century melodrama derived from a play "Le Juif Polonais" by Alexandre Chatrian and Emile Erckmann. It was first staged in 1871 and was made into a number of silent films and at least three early sound versions of which this is the only film to remain (most were melted down for the silver nitrate during the Second World War).

Rating:
Summary: Think "Tell-Tale Heart" meets "Cabinet of Dr. Caligari"
Review: "The Bells" is an interesting 1926 silent horror film that strikes me as a cross between Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" and the German expressionist film "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari." See if you can tell why from this description of the plot. Once upon a time Mathias (Lionel Barrymore), an innkeeper, murders a rich Polish traveler staying at his inn. However, his conscience keeps bothering Mathias who is haunted by the murdered man's ghost. The victim's brother has his own suspicions and brings a sideshow mesmerist (Boris Karloff), who can supposedly read minds. During the inquest the mesmerist stares at Mathias, who can not escape his own guilt. This 1926 film was one of the last directed by James Young, who became making silent adaptations of Shakespeare plays. "The Bells" is simple, but effective, and a climax that offers Boris Karloff staring accusingly at Mr. Potter from "It's a Wonderful Life" does have its moments. Certainly worth a look on the score alone. Despite the affinity with Poe's classic short story, "The Bells" was a fairly well-known 19th-century melodrama derived from a play "Le Juif Polonais" by Alexandre Chatrian and Emile Erckmann. It was first staged in 1871 and was made into a number of silent films and at least three early sound versions of which this is the only film to remain (most were melted down for the silver nitrate during the Second World War).

Rating:
Summary: For lovers of theatre and silent drama...
Review: A must for lovers of silent drama and theatre history, this edition of The Bells offers the only surviving film version of the 19th-century play, formerly popularized by the great Henry Irving. (Note: Contrary to the packaging, there is no connection whatever with Poe's poem. The film is based on MM. Erckmann-Chatrian's Le Juif Polonais, translated by Leopold Lewis.) The print is clear, crisp and beautifully tinted, among the best preserved silent films I've ever seen, and the new score works well. Lionel Barrymore is competent and sympathetic as the tavern-keeper Mathias, tormented by the murder of a Jewish merchant. (As a young man Barrymore must have seen Irving's chilling performance, although he probably falls well short of its energy and terror.) The ending is a shocking disappointment, however, since the play's original and gruesome death scene (which made Irving an overnight star) is replaced entirely by an abrupt and sentimental repentance, giving an otherwise macabre human tragedy a fairy-tale ending. (It doesn't work and seems to make all that has gone before it just a bad dream.) That's Hollywood for you. (Imagine Willy Loman turning his life around suddenly in the last 30 seconds of Death of a Salesman-- and handing his wife the car keys, he resolves to lead a virutous life evermore.) The other 60 mins of The Bells, however, are still worth the price of admission.

Rating:
Summary: In style with the tell tale heart!
Review: The Bells DVD~ Lionel Barrymore is a haunting tale about a man whom has run into money trouble; and one night he decides to murder a wealthy patron in a desperate attempt to save his business and to make sure to take care of his family. There are several scenes in this movie, i.e., The Bells DVD~ Lionel Barrymore that are quite memorable, e.g., the blood imagery when he touches the coins of his victim. Boris Karloff is awesome in his limited role as the "mind reader" and he shows that even though he is given a minor role; he is able to have a screen presence that is hard to forget. I would definitely recommend this movie and I consider it to be one of the better silent movies of this time period.

Rating:
Summary: Worth a look
Review: THE BELLS is a 1926 release starring Lionel Barrymore as Mathias the tavern owner. The film is much more melodrama than horror (or even fantasy) but has a touch of grim murder nevertheless. The story begins quite similarly to BABES IN TOYLAND, actually... Mathias is poor yet possesses a generous heart; he is in debt to the cruel Frantz who would gladly settle the debt if he could wed Mathias' daughter Catharine. The plot similarity ends there, however. After establishing Mathias as a kind but ambitious man, we're set up for the event that changes his life - the murder of a wandering Polish Jew (as he is introduced via intertitle) named Baruch. In the meantime, we've also been introduced to the Mesmerist in the person of top-hatted Boris Karloff, leering in memorable fashion. When Baruch's brother comes to the village seeking the murderer, he brings the Mesmerist along and threatens to have him cast a spell which will force the murderer to reveal himself. Mathias, newly elected Burgomaster of the village, will have none of those devilish goings-on.

The story is supposedly based on an Edgar (Allan) Poe poem. In reality its only relation to Poe is that the title only matches that of one of his poems. To be honest, though, it's fair to bring Poe to mind regarding the story, because it's got a lot in common with THE TELL-TALE HEART (and other Poe stories) in that it's an all-consuming guilty conscience that drives much of the narrative. The ending is disappointingly abrupt, but it does seem typical of silent movies in general.

Despite modern-day second billing, Karloff is only a small player here. He has only a few lines of dialogue (or rather, a few intertitles) but a memorable countenance and sly grin. The movie belongs to Barrymore, sometimes playing scenes with ghosts (double-exposure effects shots). Lola Todd (as Catharine) and Edward Phillips (as local gendarme Christian) are pleasant and make a handsome couple.

The print used for the DVD is stunning. Very clean and crisp, no oversharpening, and perfect contrast. There are only two or three instances of jumps caused by missing frames; otherwise there is practically no damage. The packaging says "digitally mastered from an original tinted-and-toned nitrate 35mm print." The DVD transfer is lovely. The musical score is provided by Eric Beheim and "The William Pratt Players" (in honor of Karloff's real name). The score is adequate, played on synthesizers and punctuated by ringing bells when appropriate.

Also on the disc is THE CRAZY RAY originally known as PARIS QUI DORT (yet presented on the DVD with the title AT 3:25). This 1922 short may satisfy fantasy fans who felt let down by the preceding feature, at only 18 minutes long it still weaves an energetic and whimsical story about a group of people who find themselves in a Paris in which everyone else is frozen. They eventually discover the scientist who has invented the method of stopping the world, and convince him to reverse the effect. The print is on par with THE BELLS and features some breathtaking views of 1922 Paris from atop the Eiffel Tower. This extra helps make the DVD a worthwhile purchase for silent film fans, which leads me to my bottom line: if you count yourself a Lionel Barrymore fan, or an admirer of early screen fantasy, or a Karloff completist, you will want this disc. If you're not sure, you might want to consider renting if possible. There are no other disc contents, just the 68-minute feature and the 18-minute short, and it might not be worth your money to add it to the collection.

I hope you found this review useful!

Rating:
Summary: Bells of conscience ring
Review: The Bells, a 1926 release starring Lionel Barrymore as Mathias, an overly-generous tavern owner giving away more than he possesses, owes a great deal to Poe's 'Tell-Tale Heart'. Generosity leads Mathias into considerable debt, in which no resolve seems evident. Along comes Baruch, a wealthy traveler, seeking refuge from a fierce storm. After drinks, he foolishly reveals to Mathias a money-belt containing a great quantity of gold. Seeing no other recourse, Mathias seizes the opportunity to redeem himself as well as pay off his debts via murdering the unsuspecting traveler and taking his gold. Amidst a brutal snowstorm, Mathias kills Baruch, the sound of the sleigh bells reverberating throughout the scene. Once it's over, Mathias returns to his tavern with his ill-gotten fortune. Paying off his debts and marrying his daughter to the chief investigater, Mathias seems to be in the clear. However, in true 'Tell-Tale Heart' fashion, his conscience is tormented by the unrelenting 'bells', seen numerous times in a super-imposed manner. A trial commences and as luck would have it, Mathias oversees the preceding. Earlier in the film, Karoff, appears as a mesmerist, capable of casting a spell that will force the murderer to reveal himself. His role is minor but the possibilities prove endless in regards to the trial. In true Dr Caligari fashion, Karloff delights. His presence is enough to spook Mathias and the trial rapidly ascends into chaos. The print of the film is marvelous. For it's vintage, the picture quality is crisp and for the most part clear of any flaws. A few instances of jitter and film deterioration exist. The musical score provided byEric Beheim is adequate and proves to enhance the film's mood changes. If you're at all fascinated by Gothic horror, Poe, and/or Barrymore or Karloff, this DVD is well worth it. Regardless of whether or not you purchase this disc, a viewing is a must.