Lonesome (1928)

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ½

Lonesome (1928) – P. Fejos

Paul Fejos shot this film in the silent mode but then it was refashioned: first, with sound effects and music, and then, with three short scenes with actual sound dialogue (thus it is a “part-talkie”).  Two lonely people meet at Coney Island on the 4^th of July weekend and enjoy a whirlwind day out.  Fejos uses superimposition very liberally, both to depict what people are thinking but also just to show concurrent events (and he even overlays a clock to show us that time is passing).  Although the early scenes (with the clock) are all drudgery and lonesomeness, once we reach the beach, we are treated to hand-tinting and some beautiful compositions.  “Always” by Irving Berlin plays an important role on the soundtrack and in the “twist” ending to the film.  Of course, the twist in question is fully telegraphed – when the two young people become separated (and they don’t even know each other’s last names), we know they will be reunited – but we just don’t know how or when.  A delight!