Review of The Show-Off

I enjoyed stepping back in time to the 1920s to view this film. The story is fairly predictable, but is given a strong shot in arm with an outstanding cast and direction of Malcolm St. Clair. I think we've all known someone similar to the main character, Aubrey Piper, "The Show Off". Aubrey Piper not only exaggerates his own self importance, but is incredibly loud and obnoxious in the process- From his loud bursts of laughter at inappropriate moments, to his backslapping, to his bragging and lying, Ford Sterling does not need sound to portray Aubrey Piper in this manner. Louise Brooks is superb and makes the most in her supporting role as the girl friend of Aubrey's girl friend's brother. The scene where she catches Aubrey, whose invited himself to dinner at the Fisher house, counting the portions during the prayer before dinner is priceless in a hilarious way. Again, no words needed, Louise's expression says it all. I was also impressed with the way that Louise and her co-star Gregory Kelly played the scene in which they react to the death of "Pop Fisher". No words or subtitles were needed, it was not overplayed, and was quite convincing. It was a bit of a stretch to believe that Aubrey's fiancee played by Lois Wilson, Amy Fisher (no, not that Amy Fisher) didn't see Aubrey as what he was and remained devoted to him, but hey I guess love can make us blind to the obvious faults of the ones we love. This is evident when she tells her mother that she'll marry Aubrey "out of spite." POSSIBLE SPOILER: It's even more difficult to believe the final conflict resolution, when Aubrey, a $30 per week railroad clerk, takes the rust free paint invention of Amy's brother to the board of a company and persuades them to buy it after her brother was unsuccessful in finding a buyer. But hey, this isn't Lawrence of Arabia or any epic like that, but rather a light comedy with a bit of drama done over 75 years ago and I think it stands up well over the test of time. If only more silents like this would have been preserved, especially Louise Brooks and Clara Bow Paramount films. 8/10