Upstream

The most recent discovered John Ford. A light silent comedy made during his least productive year of the pre-WW2 era. Upstream (1927) was in fact the only movie he made in 1927 and it's not among the director's essential movies. I wonder what was going on in the director's life at that time? Can't be because he was out of demand for he shows more finesse in his work then most of his Hollywood colleagues. And it's the style that's the attraction, more then the material he was filming.

The camerawork is all quietly great and it's full of really fun characters. It doesn't add up to a hell of a lot though. Ford (who always loved the silents) seems to really, really want to be working with sound here.

A trifle from Ford, which makes it better than most trifles, but leaves it wanting among Ford's films (including a number of better silents). The comedic take on a group of performers all renting rooms in the same large house is only occasionally funny, offers little in terms of visual distinction, and seems to be little more than what Ford would consider "a job of work." Fun enough to see once, but I don't have the inclination to revisit this one.