Review of Sunrise (1985) by Philippe D — 24 May 2009

I was highly impressed with this silent film from 1927 starring the handsome Irish actor, George O'Brien, and the Janet Gaynor as his wife. I did not catch the name of the other performers featured in the film.

Beautifully filmed in black and white. I was surprised by the technique and effects they were able to achieve that far back in film.

Mostly without any written dialog, the action alone conveys the story quite well, something of which many film makers today should take note.

While some of the acting is a little over the top, it is a far cry from the usual histrionics one expects in silent films and is for the most part rather realistically done.

The story involves a farmer who has an affair, and is lured by the other woman, into the idea of doing away with his wife.

What happens when he attempts to murder his wife, and what happens after-ward, is what makes up the main content of the film. I found the storyline interesting, and while basically a drama, it also has touches of humor.

All the characters in the film are nameless, and the country where the action takes place, while seemingly foreign, is never identified.