"Lonesome"*** 1\2 (out of ****)
They are two lonely people, living in a big city. They each deal with the daily struggles of life, caught up in the meaningless rituals of the day; get dressed for work, ride the train...ect.
It is not a fulfilling life however. How can you be constantly surrounded by people yet feel alone? They both want to find love. Love will give their life meaning. Having someone by their side, as they take on the world, will bring joy to them.
The boy's name is Jim (Glenn Tryon) and the girl is Mary (Barbara Kent). They are you. Don't deny it. You've been in their shoes. Maybe you still are. The search for love is all consuming. Oh, I know, you are an independent person. You say you don't need someone in your life to be happy. Blah, blah, blah. You have your moments. Those moments when your head hits the pillow and you wish someone else was in the bed. You may not say it out loud (you have too much pride), but, the thought has crossed your mind.
This is "Lonesome" (1928), the rarely seen, imaginative, melodramatic, romantic, surreal, gem of a love story. It is simplistic in its plot but rich in every other detail. Its simplicity in fact is what makes it so enjoyable. It is about ordinary people and finds magic in their simple lives.
Our story takes place on a scorching summer day, July 3rd. Everyone is getting ready to celebrate the holiday after work. That is everyone but Jim and Mary. Their friends all have dates and plan to do fun couple activities. Neither wants to tag along and be a third wheel. So, they each go back to their apartments. They sulk. They try to cool off. Try to take their mind off of their loneliness. Listen to music? Play cards? Read a magazine? Suddenly uptempo music is heard from the street. A jazz band is playing advertising festivities going on at the beach. The beach! That could be fun. And so Jim and Mary get ready to go to the beach.
Jim and Mary both catch the same bus that will take them to the beach. Mary doesn't notice Jim, as she sits next to a man that gets a bit "fresh" with her, but Jim notices Mary. He is going to make his move at the beach. He takes a rather dumb approach, pretending to be a millionaire - he decided to go to the beach instead of spending time on his yacht. She spins her own yarn too. But, something is happening between them. Better to be honest, just in case this is the real deal.
After their time in the sun and sand the two hit the rides at Coney Island's amusement park. Through some unfortunate events on one of the roller coasters, Jim and Mary get separated. Neither knows the other's last name or where they live, despite dreaming about future plans together. Can they find each other in the hustle and bustle of the crowd? Will they go back to being two lonely souls in the big city?
"Lonesome" was directed by Pal Fejos (credited as Paul Fejos), a Hungarian filmmaker who found his way to America in the 1920s. His life would make quite the movie. He started out studying medicine and after World War I began making films in Budapest. After only staying in Hollywood for a few years, he left for Paris, went back to Hungary and then to Austria and Denmark. Eventually he stopped making films altogether to work in anthropology back in America.
Fejos' films aren't readily available for American audiences. Of the few Americans can see, "Lonesome" is generally considered the best. The sad part is not many have seen the movie, even though it has been put on DVD and blu-ray as part of the Criterion Collection.
That audiences are able to see "Lonesome" at all is something of a cinematic miracle. After its release, the movie was rarely seen or heard of again. Some believed it was a "lost movie", Fejos first American movie, "The Last Moment" (1927) is lost. As they say, please check your attic. "Lonesome" was rediscovered and restored in the 1980s. The Criterion blu-ray (which I own) does not have a crisp and clear imagine. It is rather grainy. But, again, to be able to see the movie at all is a pleasure.
The movie was originally intended as a silent movie but with the success of "talkies" sound was added to the picture with three dialogue scenes included. These scenes are out of place. Two of them are set on the beach. In the first one, Jim and Mary speak their first words to each other. Whether it was done for artistic reasons or because of equipment issues, only their voices are heard. There is no background noise despite seeing the crowd on the beach. Yet, the scene works. It is as if the rest of the world doesn't exist. They have each blocked out all sound. All that matters in this moment is each other. The other scene takes place as the beach closes. It is supposed to be night. We have gone from the actual location of a beach to a sound studio. The background is pitch black with only the two characters. It creates a surreal effect, intentional or not. It is as if it is all a dream. It has a charming quality to it.
If there is a downfall to the film it is the dialogue and, at times, acting. While both Barbara Kent and Glenn Tryon have likeable on-screen personalities, and Kent a sweet smile and innocent quality, they seem to be giving performances and don't have the necessary chemistry between them to make you think they really are in love. The dialogue on the other hand just sounds flat out phony. But, because dialogue was new to the medium, viewers can be a bit forgiving. It is the visuals that steal the show.
Interestingly "Lonesome" was released the same year as King Vidor's "The Crowd" (1928), a similarly themed movie with lead characters named John and Mary. Is it a coincidence? Both movies try to find poetry in everyday life. Both movies have characters face a hectic, mad world. Both even have scenes take place at Coney Island. Although both movies are worth seeing, "The Crowd" is ever so slightly the more impressive of the two. Also interesting, it is the third movie I can think of, made in 1928, to show a couple on a date at Coney Island; "Lonesome", "The Crowd", and the Harold Lloyd comedy, "Speedy" (1928).
When first released, reviews in the New York Times and Variety were not kind to this movie. They complained about the movie's simplicity and Variety pointed out the dialogue and lack of. Were reviews in 1928 too harsh? Has nostalgia clouded our judgement as modern viewers? Maybe "Lonesome" is just a good movie.
"Lonesome" works for me because of its characters. Yes, the acting is a bit stiff, but, it is what they represent (the working man and woman) that I find appealing. Fejos understands the daily grind we go through. That are needs are simple. Yes, many talk about wanting great fame and money, but, just sitting next to someone you love can be as exciting. As I say, he finds the magic in our simple lives. I don't know what critics in 1928 were expecting, but, if they couldn't relate to it back than, boy, what does it say that 90 years later its ideas hit home?
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