I decided this afternoon to watch a little 2-reeler with Wallace Reid called "The Three Brothers" (1915). Decidedly old-fashioned in many respects, even for 1914 when it was shot, nevertheless, I can see why Wally Reid was so popular in the 1910's. This one is about three brothers in the countryside of Canada who live with their widowed mother. A distant cousin comes to live with them. It is the custom of the country for the eldest to be able to pledge his love and marry before the others. The eldest is Wally Reid. The second brother, an evilly motivated brother, is played by Allan Sears. The third, the youngest, brother is played by William Hinckley. Wally has to go off to sea to make money to be able to take care of his cousin, with whom he indeed falls in love. He leaves, but while he's gone his second brother takes advantage of a fact that his ship has been lost at sea and Wally drowned. Actually, Wally didn't drown and wrote a letter (which is intercepted by his second brother) to that effect. The second brother now tries to take advantage of the cousin, but she rebuffs him and eventually pledges her love to the youngest brother. Wally, now home but not having yet made that known, overhears the pledge from his cousin, then goes off to muse the fact over. The second brother, finding out the situation, actually plans to kill his brother, but Wally thwarts the plan and saves the day, gives his younger brother his blessing, and hopes his second brother can ever forgive himself. The curse of Cain, as Wally calls it. The End.
The acting is very natural and first rate. This was released in January of 1915, Wally's first release of that year. BUT - the presentation, both the camera work and the actor's blocking, is very primitive and just too old-fashioned for most modern viewers. The direction, by Christy Cabanne, is fair at best. This probably was a fine programmer for its day, but it's seen its best day now. Definitely a relic for a silent movie lover's lazy afternoon when there are about 30 minutes to kill.
The acting is very natural and first rate. This was released in January of 1915, Wally's first release of that year. BUT - the presentation, both the camera work and the actor's blocking, is very primitive and just too old-fashioned for most modern viewers. The direction, by Christy Cabanne, is fair at best. This probably was a fine programmer for its day, but it's seen its best day now. Definitely a relic for a silent movie lover's lazy afternoon when there are about 30 minutes to kill.
