Anita Page trio

The beautiful Anita Page passed away not too long ago, so a bunch of her films were shown. I recorded several and am just getting around to them: Our Dancing Daughters, Our Modern Maidens, and The Broadway Melody.

Dancing Daughters was the only one I'd seen previously, and then I'd mostly paid attention to Joan Crawford, as this is a bit of a breakout role for her. However, on second viewing, I'd say that Anita Page outplays her as the conniving Annikins. It is quintessential flapper. I gave it a 6 and might have given it a 7 if it wasn't for a ridiculously awkward scene at the end where Ann falls down the stairs to her death. I know, it is rough to snit on a 1928 movie because of a bad special effect, but it really is hard to watch today. The rest of the film is solid though.

Modern Maidens, made a year later, pairs Joan and Anita once again, this time as rivals for Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Ironically, they were rumored to be enemies in real life. It has some solid scenes and great sets, but overall is weaker than Daughters. The ending is maudlin and doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Still, worth a 5.

Broadway Melody is also 1929, but it's a talkie, and Anita's first I believe. She's pretty good with the dialogue too. Not many silent stars could make the transition. Must have been really tough to do silent films concurrently with talkies, like Anita is doing here. It is a very interesting film, but the plot is weak. It's just a typical love triangle inside a musical.

Amazingly, although come to think of it, really not so surprisingly, Broadway Melody won the Oscar for Best Picture. Bessie Love also got a Best Actress nomination for playing Anita's sister and rival in love. She is good in this movie, as is Anita. Charles King as the male lead/love interest is not quite as good. Still, it probably was one of the better movies of 1929. I give it a 6.