The Light in the Dark

19221922
1h 10m

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

165

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

243,116

110,300

Crime Drama Romance

Poor Bessie MacGregor is struck by the automobile of wealthy Mrs. Templeton Orrin and is taken home to live with her. But Bessie leaves when Mrs. Orrin's brother, J. Warburton Ashe, trifles ... Read allPoor Bessie MacGregor is struck by the automobile of wealthy Mrs. Templeton Orrin and is taken home to live with her. But Bessie leaves when Mrs. Orrin's brother, J. Warburton Ashe, trifles with her love. Thief Tony Pantelli befriends her in the tenement where she finds a room, t... Read allPoor Bessie MacGregor is struck by the automobile of wealthy Mrs. Templeton Orrin and is taken home to live with her. But Bessie leaves when Mrs. Orrin's brother, J. Warburton Ashe, trifles with her love. Thief Tony Pantelli befriends her in the tenement where she finds a room, tries to obtain money for her care from Ashe, and, failing, steals a goblet that Ashe has b... Read all

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

165

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

243,116

110,300

Director
- Clarence Brown
Writers
- Clarence Brown
- William Dudley Pelley
Stars

Top credits

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Trivia
A 70-minute reconstruction was produced by the International Museum of Photography and Film at George Eastman House.

Alternate versions
Originally, The Light in the Dark was a feature lenght film. However, only a 33-minute edited version, retitled The Light of Faith, has survived.

User reviews8

Review

Featured review

9/10

One of the best lit films ever!

With a title like this you'd have to expect some lighting effects, but the sheer beauty of the lighting and cinematography in this film will amaze you. Sunlight in the heroine's hair, the glow of the holy grail and its reflection on faces, even the light of God - all are realized with great care. It certainly anticipates Clarence Brown's later work, especially with Garbo.

The version of the film that I saw was a 30 minute edit re-titled "The Light of Faith" (and beautifully restored by KINO video). I don't know if a longer version exists, but I'd love to see it. As it is the film works beautifully. It is a simple tale of a rough petty criminal, played with great delicacy by the genius actor Lon Chaney, who is trying to help a young woman who has run away from her wealthy family. She tells him the story of the holy grail - and Brown recreates it for us with great beauty. Chaney then attempts to steal the newly discovered grail to restore the girl's health. It builds to a moving and visually stunning climax.

Don't miss this exquisite film.

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