Starring Tula Belle, Robin Macdougall, Lillian Cook, Edwin E. Reed
Produced by Famous Players-Lasky Corporation
Tyltyl and Mytyl do not have an easy life. There's not enough bread to go around. Their mother and father are constantly working. Still, they are bright-eyed and smiling as they play with their dog and cat. And the small blue bird in their cage brings them some joy.
A poor neighbor asks to borrow the bird to bring to her sick daughter, but Mytyl cannot bear to part with her pet. Later, that night they receive a visit from the neighbor. Except now, the neighbor claims to be the fairy Berylune. The visitor wants the children to seek the legendary Bluebird of Happiness.
As on any quest, the kids receive some help. Instead of ruby slippers or the One Ring, Berylune gives Tyltyl a magic hat. A turn of the diamond on the brim and the kids can see the souls of things. Soon, the children are surrounded by the spirits of fire, water, bread, even their dog and cat. Off the group goes to seek the bluebird, traveling to the Palace of Night and the Kingdom of the Future. Can they find the fabled bird? Or will their own cat be successful in destroying their plans?
This is a gorgeous film that sneaks up on you. The opening fifteen minutes focus on the relatively mundane lives of the children. It's engaging and well-filmed with all of the techniques we have seen over the decade (the editing pioneered by D.W. Griffith, close-ups). The scenes are of a family dealing with routines we would all recognize: preparing dinner, playing with the dog, cleaning up the scarf left on the floor.
The fantastic world that comes to life relies on a lot of stage techniques. But Tourneur has a cinematic eye and it never feels like a play. The fire spirit is a dancer in an inventive costume. The bread comes sliding from the oven and stretches its arms and legs. A stream of water unfolds to reveal a woman. All through elaborate costumes one might find on the stage, but the editing makes it a film.
Other touches are achieved through more traditional cinematic effects. Clothes leap onto a child through reversed film stock. A loaf of sugar turns into a man through a simple dissolve. Tricks of light reveal mood and hidden lands. All set against surreal backgrounds that help complete the effect.
There are elements that will hit the modern audience in a strange way. The children visit their deceased grandparents. Then they ask about their brothers and sisters. Seven (yes, seven) children including a baby descend the stairs. There is a really high mortality rate in their village.
There are also some beautiful ideas in the story. The Palace of Happiness is filled with joys and luxuries, but the highest of all is maternal joy. When they meet the spirit of motherhood, the kids are overcome and reminded not to forget this feeling when they see their mother in rags.
The Kingdom of the Future is the playground of a of the children yet to be born. The children meet a future sibling. They also see two children who are inseparable; they are soulmates. When one is taken to be born, they resolve to find each other as they live their lives. What a great concept for married couples.
This is a beautiful film. Of course it is dated, but it features incredible imagery and wonderful performances by the children. My only surprise is there has not been an update in the last few years. I can easily imagine an adventure film or an animated tale centered on this story.
**** out of *****
Update: I posted a brief write-up on watching this with my children.
Watched on DVD through Netflix
Photos from The Obscure Hollow
0 comments:
Post a Comment