Carol Dempster (as Gypsy Fair) is a dancer, trying to support her elderly father in a seedy Limehouse-type district. The "King" of the streets is Ralph Graves (as James "Spike" McFadden); he has conquered males with his fists, and females with his voice (he's a singer). Charles Mack (as Billie McFadden) is his devoted little brother, an aspiring songwriter. The film's other denizens include Tyrone Power (Sr.) as "The Minister of Good Words" and Morgan Wallace as "The Evil Influence". Porter Strong (as Samuel Jones) and Edward Peil (as Sway Wan) reprise their obligatory "Blackface" and "Yellowface" roles.
Director D.W. Griffith mixes unsavory with the "love triangle" formed by his three leading players. If "Dream Street" had featured the creative input of G.W. Bitzer, Robert Harron, and/or Lillian Gish, the results might have looked better. Mr. Griffith's ominous spoken-word introduction is unfulfilled; while it has its moments, and Mr. Mack is good, "Dream Street" is a relative failure. Seek out superior Griffith directed films from 1918-20, usually starring Gish and Harron, for more dreamy films.
*** Dream Street (4/12/21) D.W. Griffith ~ Carol Dempster, Ralph Graves, Charles Emmett Mack
