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5.2/10
Archivist John
Senior Editor
A definitive 5.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Character Studies remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Alright, let’s just get this out of the way upfront: Character Studies from 1928? It’s not for everyone. You’ll probably only really dig it if you’re a serious silent film buff, or maybe an acting student curious about how faces worked before sound. Anyone expecting a plot, explosions, or even just a coherent story is gonna be really disappointed. 🤷♀️
What you get here is Montagu Love, and *a lot* of him. The title isn’t kidding; it’s literally him trying on different characters like they’re hats. We see him shift from, well, a sort of brooding tough guy, to someone more gentle, then back to something else entirely. It’s like watching a stage actor do a series of monologues, only totally silent. Just his face, his body, and the way he holds himself.
Honestly, some of these moments feel like he’s just… thinking really hard about what emotion to hit next. One particular grimace he holds for what feels like an eternity, and you’re just there, waiting for the blink. It almost becomes funny, this intense staring.
It’s really interesting to see the exaggerated expressions that were so common in silent films. Sometimes it works, sometimes it feels a bit much, like the movie is yelling, 'FEEL THIS! THIS IS SAD!' But then there are these flashes, where you catch a very quick, subtle change in his eyes, and it feels truly human. 😮 That’s when the 'study' part actually clicks.
There's one 'character' where he’s got this slight, almost unnoticeable tremor in his hand. It's a tiny detail, easy to miss, but it tells you so much without a single intertitle card. That’s the kind of stuff that makes you go, 'Oh, okay, I get it now.' He really tries to get into the skin of these different types, even if the transitions are often quite abrupt. One second he’s a gentleman, the next, a scoundrel. No setup, just boom, new persona.
The pacing, for a film with no plot, is actually pretty decent. It doesn't drag too much because it’s constantly throwing a new 'face' at you. It’s like flipping through a photo album of intense emotions.
For me, the strongest parts are when Love isn't trying to be so *big*. The quiet moments, where his face just holds a particular melancholy or a sly intelligence, those are the ones that stick. The camera just lingers, and you start to wonder about the stories behind those faces he’s presenting. He could probably do a whole other movie with just the background thoughts for each character.
It definitely makes you appreciate the art of silent acting, even if it’s a little… academic for a casual watch. It’s a snapshot of a performer, Montagu Love (who you might remember from My Lady Robin Hood or The Escape, if you’re into older stuff), really pushing what he could do with just his physical presence. It’s a historical document as much as a film, showing us how they explored character back when sound was still just a dream for the movies. ✨
Is it a classic? No. Is it worth seeing if you're curious about the mechanics of early screen acting? Absolutely. Just remember to temper your expectations for, you know, a story.
IMDb 5.1
1919
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