The Blot 1921
by Paulette Reynolds
November 17, 2015
by Paulette Reynolds
November 17, 2015
Starring:
Philip Hubbard as Professor Griggs, Margaret McWade as Mrs. Griggs, Claire Windsor as Amelia Griggs, Louis Calhern as Phil West, Marie Walcamp as Juanita Claredon
Directed by Lois Weber and Phillips Smalley
Produced by Lois Weber
Written by Lois Weber / Marion Orth
Cinematography Gordon Jennings / Philip R. Du Bois
Production Company: Lois Weber Productions
Restored by Kevin Brownlow / David Gill
Philip Hubbard as Professor Griggs, Margaret McWade as Mrs. Griggs, Claire Windsor as Amelia Griggs, Louis Calhern as Phil West, Marie Walcamp as Juanita Claredon
Directed by Lois Weber and Phillips Smalley
Produced by Lois Weber
Written by Lois Weber / Marion Orth
Cinematography Gordon Jennings / Philip R. Du Bois
Production Company: Lois Weber Productions
Restored by Kevin Brownlow / David Gill
Cari Beauchamp recently shared on TCM's Trailblazing Women in Film that 80% of the silent films from that era are gone forever, leaving us with a scant 20% to treasure. And although only 20 of Lois Weber's films are still available for viewing, her impact remains inspirational to artists and film audiences everywhere.
I remembered this point when I sat down to enjoy Lois Weber's The Blot, made in 1921. It's also important to note that the wages for teachers - especially college professors - certainly have changed - and in a mere century!
The Blot revolves around a crisis of genteel poverty facing the family of a poor college professor, Mr. Griggs and his wife and daughter, Amelia, a librarian. Amelia is courted by three potential suitors - a poor minister, the son of a prosperous middle class family, and Phil West, the son of a wealthy businessman who is also Prof. Griggs' student.
Lois Weber uses The Blot as an fascinating examination of the American class system through the on-going conflicts between Mrs. Griggs and Mrs. Olson, the wife of the middle class neighbor. Mrs. Olson thinks her neighbor is stuck up because her husband is a professor and so part of the intellegensia. At the same time Mrs. Griggs believes Mrs. Olson is stuck up and lazy because her husband owns a successful shoe store and so is part of the mercantile class. Their kitchen windows face each other and serves as a passive-aggressive conduit for the two women to express their misconceptions. Mrs. Olson often proudly puts her meals on display, unaware that Mrs. Griggs struggles every day trying to put the bare necessities on the family table.
Meanwhile, the Griggs household is kept in a state of constant flux, trying to manage the three young men competing for Amelia's affection. The poor church-mouse pastor tries to hide his lowly status as he attempts to catch Amelia's eye by impressing her father with lofty literary offerings. The Olson son wistfully dreams of Amelia from his doorstep, while bon vivant Phil boldly makes his way into her heart through visits at the library and little chats. His initial attempts to win her through boasts and bluff do little to impress Amelia, which only piques his interest.
The script, written by Lois Weber and Marion Orth, really sets this film apart from many of the silents of the period. One scene commands our attention as Phil leaves a $20 bill on the living room table to help the family. We are captivated as it gets shoved onto the floor, sucked up in the carpet sweeper and then thrown in the trash, all the while wondering and hoping it gets discovered in time.
Louis Calhern, who went on to carve a successful film and stage career, makes the most of his character, as Phil West changes from the leader of a hedonist posse of frat boys to a serious student, realizing that the world has not created all people equal. He begins a study group at the Griggs household, which helps put food on the table and secures a place in Amelia's skeptical heart.
The Blot was Lois Weber's finest film, created during the apex of her stunning 20 year career as a director, producer and writer. This innovative woman was - at one time - on equal footing with the likes of D.W. Griffith and Cecil B. Demille, and was the only female member of the Motion Picture Directors Association. She explored social issues of racism, nudity, addiction, and women's reproductive rights in scores of pre-code movies and served as a voice for the changing roles of women during the World War I era. Thanks to film historians and preservationists Kevin Brownlow/David Gill, and movie network TCM, The Blot - and Lois Weber's legacy - has been restored to its rightful place.
COPYRIGHT 2012/2015. Paulette Reynolds. All CineMata Movie Madness blog articles, reviews, faux interviews, commentary, and the Cine Mata character are under the sole ownership of Paulette Reynolds. All intellectual and creative rights reserved.
