Engel der Straße (1928)

Engel der Straße: Directed by Frank Borzage. With Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell, Natalie Kingston, Henry Armetta. A woman on the run from the law finds her past catching up to her just as she is on the verge of true happiness.

“Frank Borzageu0026#39;s films often take place in Europa .u0026quot;Seventh Heavenu0026quot; took the audience to France before and during WW1.And in the talkies era ,many of his works were depictions of Germany(u0026quot;Little Man What Now?u0026quot; u0026quot;Three Comradesu0026quot; u0026quot;Mortal Stormu0026quot; ).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;Street Angelu0026quot; is a Neapolitan effort.The follow -up to u0026quot;Seventh Heavenu0026quot; ,with the same actors ,its first part is a bit erratic,recalling u0026quot;Heavenu0026quot; but without its focus and its intensity.But by the second third ,the movie really takes off ;it grabs you when Gino and Angela move into their small apartment in Napoli.And when the girl,about to be arrested,is given one houru0026#39;s grace,Borzageu0026#39;s movie turns sublime.This hour …this hour….If it were only for that scene,Janet Gaynor would deserve her AA hands down.This is really one of the most beautiful love scenes I have ever seen: you should see the actress smile ,laugh through her tears ,her intense happiness which she knows will be short-lived: and doing that without any words is a feat which is even more impressive today.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOther remarkable scenes: When Angela is in Jail ,and Gino is desperately searching for her,the director makes a stunning use of the shadows.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe misty harbor u0026quot;where there are plenty of them (street angels)u0026quot; where the lovers meet again.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnd last but not least ,the painting (u0026quot;You should not have sold it,it was our guardian angelu0026quot; ) which plays a prominent part in the plot ;the final harrowing scene in the church is Ginau0026#39;s redemption.A sequence to rival the best of Murnauu0026#39;s u0026quot;Daybreaku0026quot; .u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFrank Borzage is the poet of the lovers whou0026#39;ve got to fight against a hostile world.u0026quot;On the street ,you will find people whose love and pain make greatu0026quot; the director tells us before his story begins.”