Tess of the Storm Country

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"The 1922 remake of "Tess of the Storm Country" is one of the best surprises of the silent film era. In fact, for me, it has been a surprise twice in my life. The first time was at the age of 16, in 1960, in that little silent movie theater on Fairfax Avenue in Hollywood, where I was spending many solitary afternoons after having happily discovered the little place during one of my many, many adventures through the Hollywood landscape. Inside that scrawny little theater I got to see an amazing art that nobody had ever told me about, movie after movie after movie, often tinted, and toned - sometimes both, and always completely unexpected to my eyes because I didn't understand why I was watching "silent" motion pictures - or more accurately, why I was so mesmerized and compelled by such an experience.

The second time I saw "Tess of the Storm Country" was yesterday, when I viewed this DVD version (produced by the Mary Pickford foundation). Up until then I thought I had seen this film; but I really had not. This DVD contains what seems to be a full and complete version, replete with all the damage one would sadly expect from years of what appears to me to be complete neglect, but intact with its original shape, its ambitious print coloring, its fully mature pace, and the thoroughly engaging performance of Mary Pickford and the entire cast.

Although it's a modern addition, Jeffrey Mark Silverman's music score for this film is a real gem - fully in sync with the drama on screen and consistently adding understanding to the scenes. In fact, I watched the film twice in a row, back-to-back, "listening" to this silent masterpiece and its glorious sound.

For me the triumph of Mary Pickford's remake of "Tess of the Storm Country" is the completeness of its timeless, agrarian prayer - as sweet as you will ever experience. It is one of the greatest films ever made. It is absolutely an American masterpiece."