Beyond the Rocks

Long thought lost but rediscovered and restored by the Nederlands Filmmuseum, this 1922 romance paired legendary silent-screen stars Gloria Swanson and Rudolph Valentino at the peak of their powers (as filmmaker Martin Scorsese points out in his brief but glowing introduction, such powerhouse star combos were rare in the silent days). Based on a story by author Elinor Glyn, Beyond the Rocks revolves around the illicit relationship between a wealthy nobleman and a modestly raised girl who has married above her station. Sturdily mounted and featuring sure-handed (if also uninspired) direction by Sam Wood, the film is mildly engaging but would hardly merit the hoopla it's received in film-buff circles were it not for the star combo. Distributed by New Yorker Video, this Milestone Film & Video presentation reflects plenty of tender, loving care, as is customary for the Milestone label: viewers will see informative featurettes on the processes of restoration and scoring (Henny Vrienten's music, while hardly period-appropriate, suits the movie admirably), and hear a fascinating 85-minute 1955 wire recording of Swanson's reminiscences—some of which are quite startling. Also included on the disc is the 1919 Valentino feature, The Delicious Little Devil, which is basically fluff but has never before been commercially available. Cinema studies collections will want to add this, and it's certain to be embraced by vintage silent-film fans—not least because of the outstanding DVD extras package. Recommended, overall. (E. Hulse)