{"product_id":"beyond-the-rocks","title":"Beyond the Rocks","description":"Amazon.com\n\nThe rediscovery and restoration of any film long believed lost is good news. Beyond the Rocks inspired still more excitement at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival because it was the only movie ever to costar two of the silent era's highest-wattage luminaries: Gloria Swanson and Rudolph Valentino.\nCultural cliché holds that Swanson's acting was as garish as her makeup, and the legend of Valentino is awash in camp. Yet in this picture--however preposterously plotted by Elinor (It) Glyn--both deliver very natural performances of behavioral subtlety and discretion. Swanson, as the loving daughter of a retired officer (Alec B. Francis), is willing to do anything to ensure that Papa's twilight years be comfortable. That includes marrying a much older, vulgar businessman (Robert Bolder) as wealthy as he is unappealing. It's inconvenient that she's just fallen for a dashing nobleman (Valentino) who's saved her from (1) drowning and (2) falling off an Alp. Both these beautiful people struggle to behave honorably, right up through a final reel in which the unsympathetic husband takes them--and the audience--by surprise.\nNow, we mustn't make overmuch of a good thing: Beyond the Rocks, ably but unexcitingly directed by Sam Wood, isn't a lost Murnau or the uncut Greed. But it's a very respectable movie, free of the excesses (except Swanson's increasingly florid costumes!) carelessly attributed to silent films in general; and as a long-delayed footnote to two legendary careers, its historical importance is considerable. The Nederlands Filmmuseum restoration is gloriously sharp (apart from a few spasms of almost impenetrable nitrate deterioration), and the new score by Henny Vrienten sounds more like Mark Isham than the organ-and-calliope accompaniment too many silents have suffered from. --Richard T. Jameson\n\nProduct Description\n\nRudolph Valentino and Gloria Swanson star in this film directed by Sam Wood.\n\nReview\n\n\"A CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION! A testament to the extraordinary artistry of silent cinema.\" -- Martin Scorsese\n\n\"Smoldering and yearning for one another, SWANSON AND VALENTINO GIVE LUMINOUS PERFORMANCES!\" -- Diane Carson, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH\u003cbr\u003eASIN: B000FSME5Q\u003cbr\u003eVSKU: DBV.B000FSME5Q.G\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Good\u003cbr\u003eAuthor\/Artist:Rudolph Valentino|Edythe Chapman|Alec B. Francis|Gloria Swanson|Robert Bolder|Gertrude Astor|June Elvidge|Helen Dunbar|Frank Butler|Mabel Van Buren|Raymond Brathwayt|Lucien Littlefield|Leo White|Mary Foy|Larry Steers|Adele Watson|Gino Corrado|Sam Wood\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Dvd\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNote:\u003c\/b\u003e Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Notes\u003c\/b\u003e: Individually inspected: Guaranteed to play perfectly or your money back. Case may show wear and may be in library packaging. Ships Fast!  \u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Dream Books Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41760005750842,"sku":"DBV.B000FSME5Q.G","price":98.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/6011\/0138\/files\/B000FSME5Q-0.jpg?v=1792124441","url":"https:\/\/shop.dreambooksco.com\/products\/beyond-the-rocks","provider":"Dream Books Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}