Lorna Doone

If you're searching for a faithful screen adaptation of R.D. Blackmore's much-filmed 1869 novel--an adventure-romance about an honest yeoman farmer's love for the daughter of an outlaw clan leader in late 17th-century England--this 1922 silent version isn't for you. It not only ignores most of the historical detail of the book, but also makes the cardinal error of transposing the story's big revelation about the heroine's identity to the very beginning, thereby ruining the suspense (the 2000 made-for-TV version with Richard Coyle and Amelia Warner is far preferable in these respects, and quite entertaining overall). But this is nonetheless a release that should appeal to movie buffs, not only because it demonstrates that director Maurice Tourneur (father of the better-known Jacques) had a fine eye for striking compositions, but also because of its two fascinating stars: Madge Bellamy, whose rejection of a role in 1929 got her virtually blacklisted, and John Bowers, whose alcoholism and inability to segue into sound films led to his suicide by drowning in 1936 (he became the inspiration for the character of Norman Maine in A Star is Born). Since few of Bellamy and Bowers' pictures survive, Lorna Doone--which boasts a good transfer (though flaws in the negative are still evident), as well as an intriguingly offbeat music score by Mari Iijima--is welcome, indeed. DVD extras include a Tourneur biography/filmography, a stills gallery, and a copy of the original New York Times review. A strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)