Lancoor A very feeble attempt at affirmatie action

TrueHello Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Jerrie It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

CJBx7 THE ACE OF HEARTS (1921) deals with a secret society that plots to eliminate a wealthy industrialist. Three of the members of the group are involved in a love triangle. When one of the men is chosen to perform the assassination, the woman (who originally would not consider a romance) marries him, but then they begin to have second thoughts about their task, with significant consequences for all involved. Directed by Wallace Worsley.SCRIPT: THE ACE OF HEARTS is quite interesting in that it takes us into the secret world of a vigilante group and makes its members into the main characters rather than the villains. The story is told in several chapters, and each part is concise and focused, without unnecessary details (although the part where Lon Chaney's character waits outside the couple's apartment is a bit too long). There are occasional touches of humor (a bit with a dog, a member's remark about his family) that help to lighten the mood as needed. The movie could have done with a few less title cards in the beginning. Later on, it tells the story visually in a more effective manner. SCORE: 8/10ACTING: Lon Chaney gives a strong performance as Farallone, an experienced member of the society who forms part of the love triangle. Chaney is usually known for his portrayals of grotesque characters like the Phantom of the Opera. However, he had more conventional roles as well, which showcased his extraordinary abilities. Chaney's performance is commanding, while at the same time allowing us to empathize for Farallone's plight. John Bowers portrays Forrest, a younger man, who is affable and friendly (he is somewhat reminiscent of Richard Barthelmess) and he is effective as well. Leatrice Joy, who was the star of many Cecil B DeMille movies at this time, portrays the central point in the triangle, Lilith, effectively as an attractive yet stern woman who at first denies herself romance for the cause, but then changes into a warmer person once love comes into her heart. Good work by all involved. SCORE: 8/10CINEMATOGRAPHY/PRODUCTION: Don Short served as the cinematographer on this film. The movie has some striking overhead shots and effective chiaroscuro lighting. The scenes with rain are very moody. One detail I liked was how the title screen, instead of merely saying "THE ACE OF HEARTS", showed the actual ace of hearts card from the deck. Iris shots are also used. The sets are appropriately dark and somber at times, to show the nature of the secret society. In contrast, the restaurant scenes are bright and airy, and quite well composed to show the massive size of the interior. Very well done. SCORE: 8/10SUMMARY: THE ACE OF HEARTS is something of a forgotten gem from the silent era. The story is different and quite involving, the acting is very good and the production of the film gives considerable visual interest. SCORE: 8/10

kidboots This very moody and atmospheric thriller about a secret society was directed by Wallace Worsley and written by Gouverneur Morris, who were both responsible for Lon Chaney's chilling movie "The Penalty" (1920). The evocative and eerie music (by Vivek Maddala, so much more appropriate than his score for "The Patsy") gets you into the mood instantly as a secret society meet on a windy, rainy night to plot the murder of "one who has lived too long". Even in the depths of all this seriousness there is a romantic triangle going on as Mr. Forrest (John Bowers) and Mr. Farallone (Lon Chaney) both fall in love with the elusive Lilith (Leatrice Joy) who is wedded to "the Cause"!!!After the gruelling role of "Blizzard" in "The Penalty", this role of the lovelorn Mr. Farallone must have seemed like a walk in the park to Chaney but such is the power of his acting that with a few emotive expressions he was still able to give a gripping performance. When the cards are dealt, the Ace of Hearts, the card of death, goes to Mr. Forrest and he is elated that he has been chosen to eliminate "the Menace" (Raymond Hatton). Lilith then announces that she will marry him if that will inspire him further but after a night of love she is a changed woman and begs Forrest to run away with her. He is supposed to go to his waiters job and leave a timed bomb at the seat where "the Menace" has his breakfast every morning at nine o'clock. But things don't go to plan and when he sees a pair of run away lovers (Cullen Landis is one) sitting at a nearby table he cannot go through with it. That means he, himself, is under sentence of death but meanwhile Lilith has extracted a promise from the lovesick Farallone that if something goes wrong he will help them. In an unexpected twist Farallone (which proves Chaney didn't give up all his intensity) makes Lilith promise that if Forrest doesn't return she will, in turn, marry him. But Farallone has an ace up his sleeve that paves the way for the newly wed's happiness.Chaney's intensity toward the end made me wonder if the movie was meant to be far longer than it's 75 minutes. It originally had a far different ending, much more exciting in my opinion. Lilith and Forrest are finally tracked down to their mountain haven by Morgridge, the Society leader, who, in the original ending had picked the Ace of Hearts as the one to hunt down and kill Forrest. He survives the bomb blast but when he sees the happy family (there is now a baby) he also renounces "the Cause" with a view that love conquers everything. When Samuel Goldwyn saw it, he declared it preposterous and ordered a new ending!!!It was this movie that bought Leatrice Joy (soon to be Mrs. John Gilbert) to the attention of Cecil B. DeMille and the next year she would shoot to fame in "Saturday Night" - he intended to do for her as he had done for Gloria Swanson. John Bowers was married to Marguerite De La Motte and his main claim to fame is that his life and death were the inspiration for the Norman Maine character of "A Star is Born", although neither he nor his wife were as famous as the two depicted in the movie.

wes-connors On a windy night, a group of eight men introduced only as a "Certain Brotherhood" meet to decide whether or not to murder the latest subject of their investigation. Among the clandestine group's members are sullen artist Lon Chaney (as Farallone) and his good-looking rival John Bowers (as Forrest). We quickly learn both men are in love with the group's absent ninth member, and only female, lovely Leatrice Joy (as Lilith), who has given the group permission to proceed without her.While working undercover as a waiter for three month, Mr. Bowers has had the opportunity to observe the group's latest target. When asked his opinion on the man's worth, Bowers states, "Each day this man grows greater in vainglory and cruelty. He has lived too long!" Mr. Chaney, who has been working on the man's portrait, agrees, "He has lived a thousand times too long! Death!" the group votes unanimously to kill their hated enemy Raymond Hatton (as "The Menace").Their weapon will be a bomb, which can be set to explode in five minutes. The members are aware the job could prove fatal, but consider it an honor to die for "The Cause". To decide who will be responsible for the latest killing, the group employ their regular method. It is explained, "According to our ancient custom, the man who has lived too long will be put to death by that one among us to whom shall be dealt the Ace of Hearts." Expect sacrifice, betrayal, and the unexpected…"The Ace of Hearts" re-teams star Chaney, director Wallace Worsley and writer Gouverneur Morris; the trio who had just unleashed the marvelously grotesque "The Penalty" (1920) on an unsuspecting public. Wisely deciding not to even attempt performing a similar stunt, they went for a lower key. But, while "The Acre of Heats" has everyone looking more like upstanding citizens, the filmmakers dealt "The Ace of Hearts" from the bottom of the deck. Here, sordidness looks sweeter.The three lugubrious and emoting star players are all terrorists, and proudly so; whatever you think of the circumstances involving the bombings within the story, we are told that this group routinely carries out these murders. And, however implausible the events on screen seem, they are certainly captivating. Cinematographer Donovan Short gives it a glow-in-the-dark" look. Also note how effectively "extras" Cullen Landis and Raymond Hatton represent good and evil, in the restaurant scene.********* The Ace of Hearts (9/17/21) Wallace Worsley ~ Lon Chaney, Leatrice Joy, John Bowers, Cullen Landis

Baxter Martin "Ace of Hearts" (1921, Wallace Worsely) "Ace of Hearts" is a love triumphs over evil morality tale that happens to involve a vengeful secret society. One of the best faces for silent film ever, Lon Chaney, stars as Mr. Farallone, the dark, hulky, brooding assassin-like figure turned somewhat softie by love's charms, even if he's not going to be the ultimate victor in that battle. The film is overly dramatic throughout and yet beyond the already overwrought face of Lon Chaney, he possesses the most reserved acting and for a character who feels the event's story more so than any other character. In fact, "Ace of Hearts" may only be worth taking in for the chance to see Chaney. However, actors may definitely be mis- and/or underused in films and this film's prolific and veteran silent director Wallace Worsely should be given his dues. After all, one could expect a certain sense of added dramatization with the absence of diagetic sound.There are a couple of great external shots that are fantastic involving Chaney in a downpour and people walking on a really windy sidewalk at night. I get the poignant connection of the story of the secret society to the Red Scare of WWI, but the story still seems weak. Chaney carries the film.