Oddly, when Frank Borzage's oeuvre, most of it long unavailable on home video, started to creep out on DVD, much of what appeared was lesser works from late in his career: no Moonrise, but instead China Doll (1958, released in the UK), and Magnificent Doll (1946, released in Spain). The balance was corrected by the sumptuous Murnau, Borzage and Fox box set (see The Notebook's coverage of that here, here, here,here, here and here).
The Doll diptych would be a doubtful introduction to Borzage's world, but both films are rewarding to the viewer who has already seen a few of the classics. Particularly of note is the way China Doll blatantly recycles a wonderful moment from Street Angel (1928), where the hero holds his cigarette lighter by the heroine's face to see her on a dark night, showing how consistent Borzage's concerns had remained over thirty years.
Magnificent Doll at first...
The Doll diptych would be a doubtful introduction to Borzage's world, but both films are rewarding to the viewer who has already seen a few of the classics. Particularly of note is the way China Doll blatantly recycles a wonderful moment from Street Angel (1928), where the hero holds his cigarette lighter by the heroine's face to see her on a dark night, showing how consistent Borzage's concerns had remained over thirty years.
Magnificent Doll at first...
- 3/24/2011
- MUBI
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