Count this among those silent titles that have gratifyingly been very well preserved, or restored; the image quality is all but pristine. That makes 'Drifting' all the more pleasing to watch, as every genuinely rich detail herein is all the more vibrant as it greets our eyes. True of the era generally, and sometimes it seems of filmmaker Tod Browning's works specifically, we see outstanding, flavorful production design and art direction, fantastic costume design, and lovely hair and makeup work, not to mention commendable cinematography; to be honest, this might be worthwhile on that basis alone. The cast give reliably strong performances such that it's a pleasure just to watch them at work; Priscilla Dean, Wallace Beery, Matt Moore, Anna May Wong, and others should warm the cockles of any cinephile's heart. Even before we consider the content proper there's a great deal to enjoy still, 100 years later, in a picture that's so well made, and frankly a feast for the eyes. I definitely was taken with it from the very start.
As to that content: the feature arguably rides a lines with its story that is set in China. Even today Hollywood has a significant problem with diversity and inclusivity, and outright racism, and in many ways this was often worse in the early years of cinema. Could it be that 'Drifting' also falls into the all too common trap of romanticizing an "exotic" locale and people, dabbling with stereotypes, casting white actors in non-white roles (with or without inappropriate makeup), and mishandling the setting and subject matter? Sadly, it's not wholly without fault in this regard; its worst sin is the yellowface that adorns some of the supporting cast. In the very least, however, I think it's safe to say that this film is mostly much better about such matters than too many of its contemporaries. In fact, keeping in mind its imperfections, I nonetheless think it's sufficiently smarter such that one can ease off such concerns a little bit, and just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
And what a show it is! Like most silent films that are based on a play I can't claim any familiarity with the source material, a drama by John Colton, but I can say without question that the adapted screenplay penned by Browning with A. P. Younger is rather terrific. At least to me it feels like the plot is decidedly more complex than we often saw in similar fare, with more facets to the tale being spun and complications beyond "so-and-so is led into a life of crime, then finds redemption." The scene writing is marvelously strong, coming off like the cinematic equivalent of a word processor making rare use of italics, underlining, and bold typeface - robust, emphatic, and declaratory, yet still leaving sufficient room for the people involved to explore the space being made for them as it echoes the greater complexity of the overall narrative. There's earnest, welcome depth to the characters, enabling the cast to dig deeper and find more purchase for their acting; I'm already a fan of Dean, Beery, Moore, and their co-stars, but I wonder if this doesn't actually represent some of their best performances. Even the intertitles, whether dialogue or exposition, are written with measurable wit and intelligence, helping the title to build audience investment, propel the drama, and find its heart. True, it's a little tiresome just how often Chinese characters pointedly speak in sage aphorisms or with Extra Smart verbiage (I did say "stereotypes"), but this isn't so severe an issue as to detract from the experience, and still the writing impresses.
All this is more than enough to make 'Drifting' well worth watching; well before it's even reached the halfway mark I've all but completely fallen in love. Yet then we factor in the expert direction of Browning, and the movie might actually be a must-see. Not all of Browning's many works met with equal success, but by and large he was and should be remembered as a titan of the early film industry. He again demonstrates why here with a sharp eye for orchestrating shots and scenes, and a delicate hand with which to guide his cast throughout. It's quite worth reiterating: almost every aspect of this feature is strong enough in and of itself to deserve if not demand viewership, recognition, and remembrance. That applies to the craftsmanship of those behind the scenes, to the fine acting of everyone in front of the camera, to the excellent writing, and just as much to the dependably skilled direction. Even Errol Taggart's editing and sequencing is surprisingly keen, illustrating finer capability than could often be said of the timeframe, and any stunts or effects are just plain swell. The climactic sequence is surely just as magnificent as some of the biggest and best the silent era had to offer! The end result of all this grand effort is a superbly engaging, entertaining, satisfying viewing experience, one that I rather think stands noticeably taller than no few of its silent siblings and even films of subsequent years.
Though opening myself up for the possibility of disappointment I assumed I would enjoy this, and still my expectations have been readily surpassed. Hats off to playwright Colton, by all means, but extra special congratulations to everyone participating in this production in particular, for their work is all-around tremendous. Though early movies broadly deserve to be preserved as part of our cultural heritage, some pictures are distinctly better than others. There's no doubt in my mind that 'Drifting' very much stands apart from many other examples with value that means it's fully entitled to such treatment. It may not be entirely free of the flaws that have characterized other features of the era, but I think it does do better, and in any event its quality far outshines any weaknesses. Even with a slight dent in its armor, ultimately I'm inclined to believe this is so well done that it becomes one of the premier underappreciated classics of the 1920s. Watch with awareness of where it stumbles, but do watch: 'Drifting' is altogether kind of brilliant, so good it might even withstand the stubbornness of those who have difficulty abiding the silent era, and worth far more than the mere 80 minutes it requires of our time. Bravo!
