"Reno" involves the breakup of the marriage of Felicia and Alex. Alex is the sort of bullying, condescending man who must always have his way. He's also cheating with Rita and rubs Felicia's nose in it. Felicia decides she's had enough and heads for Reno to get a divorce. Meanwhile, Felicia's old flame Dick shows up in Reno as well. Alex is determined to catch the virtuous Felicia cheating so he can get the divorce (and custody of their child) or force Felicia to crawl back to him on her hands and knees. The story works itself out in typically melodramatic fashion, but nevertheless has its interesting elements. The script reflects the family law of the time (in which everything turns on which spouse is caught being unfaithful, even in Nevada) and also accurately reflects the sexist attitudes of both Alex (and other men) as well as the Nevada judge.
3 Reviews
Very rare title now available
yrkconnors-114 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This film came into my possession just recently because of a print discovery. It stars silent screen heroine Ruth Roland in her first talking film, made three years after her previous silent. She would make one more title in 1935 and pass on (at the age of 44) just two years later.
SPOILERS COMING The listing states a running time of 65m, but it is actually 71m. Roland plays a very unhappy housewife who's only joy in life is her little boy. Married to a pompous ass who prides himself on never losing out to anyone, particularly a woman, she finally has had enough, heads to Reno with her boy and, on the way, meets a former lover. As she waits out her residency, her husband plays her like a Stradivarius and she agrees to return, only to fall into a neatly contrived trap set by him and his paramour. She loses custody of the boy. But just before the final decree, he agrees to take her back, promising a hell on earth scenario which she is willing to endure for the sake of the child. But his lover, expecting marriage, spills the beans and as he flees to get the child, runs off the road into a ravine, thus making the marriage very final. Montague Love plays Roland's husband and a very nasty individual he is. The role is just a touch over the top. Kenneth Thompson plays her former lover, a man willing to be patient and wait for things to come in his direction. The real fun part of this one for me is watching Sam Hardy dressed as an Indian chief and signing "Reno,The Land of the Free" with a male quartet at a party. Not a bad little film, I give it a 7/10. Sono-Art World was only in existence for a short time, but did make some nice titles which were usually a cut above. Bob Connors (yrkconnors@yahoo.com)
SPOILERS COMING The listing states a running time of 65m, but it is actually 71m. Roland plays a very unhappy housewife who's only joy in life is her little boy. Married to a pompous ass who prides himself on never losing out to anyone, particularly a woman, she finally has had enough, heads to Reno with her boy and, on the way, meets a former lover. As she waits out her residency, her husband plays her like a Stradivarius and she agrees to return, only to fall into a neatly contrived trap set by him and his paramour. She loses custody of the boy. But just before the final decree, he agrees to take her back, promising a hell on earth scenario which she is willing to endure for the sake of the child. But his lover, expecting marriage, spills the beans and as he flees to get the child, runs off the road into a ravine, thus making the marriage very final. Montague Love plays Roland's husband and a very nasty individual he is. The role is just a touch over the top. Kenneth Thompson plays her former lover, a man willing to be patient and wait for things to come in his direction. The real fun part of this one for me is watching Sam Hardy dressed as an Indian chief and signing "Reno,The Land of the Free" with a male quartet at a party. Not a bad little film, I give it a 7/10. Sono-Art World was only in existence for a short time, but did make some nice titles which were usually a cut above. Bob Connors (yrkconnors@yahoo.com)
The song of Roland has no Love for Montagu
F Gwynplaine MacIntyre12 May 2005
Pearl White is the best-known silent-serial star, but Ruth Roland deserves to be remembered too. I find the dark-haired Ruth sexier than the fair-haired Pearl, and Ruth Roland's serials tended to be slightly more plausible than Pearl's. Some of Ruth Roland's silent serials even featured the intriguing device of captions and dialogue superimposed (in white letters) upon black objects on-screen in the frame compositions during the movie's action, so that there was no need to interrupt the action with inter-titles.
Whereas Pearl White's screen career ended in 1924, Ruth Roland continued to make films into the talkie era, revealing a pleasant voice for speaking and -- here in 'Reno' -- for singing. Sadly, her screen career had lost momentum even before the cancer that prematurely killed her.
SYNOPSIS: Society matron Felicia Brett (Roland) is unhappily married; she and her husband Alexander have a young son, whom Felicia dearly loves. When it becomes clear that her marriage cannot be saved, Felicia heads for the divorce mecca in Nevada ... but she's determined to retain custody of her son.
One of the deepest flaws in this film is the performance of Montagu Love as Felicia's husband. On an earlier occasion, drama critic Heywood Broun described Love's acting technique as follows: 'He thrusts out his chest and then follows it across the stage.' In 'Reno', Montagu Love plays all his scenes in Snidely Whiplash mode. When Alexander Brett contests his wife's attempts to gain custody of their son, Montagu Love's scenery-chewing makes it clear that Brett is motivated by sheer spite rather than love for the child. It helps a bit that young Bobby Brett is played by a child actor who's actually less twee and more talented than usual.
SPOILERS COMING. Before Felicia has lived in Reno long enough to qualify for the residency status that will enable her to divorce Alexander, he contrives a situation in which she appears to be committing adultery with Dick Belden, her friend from childhood. Using this falsified evidence, Alexander Brett proceeds to take sole custody of Bobby. But then a convenient avalanche kills Brett. As the divorce was not yet final, Felicia is now Brett's widow -- not his ex-wife -- and she's free to marry Belden.
Ruth Roland acquits herself well here, projecting grace and dignity and some sex appeal. Her speaking voice records well, and she has a musical number -- 'As Long As We're Together' -- which she sings splendidly, although the song itself is insipid. Despite her premature death, I'm surprised that she didn't have a better career in early talkies. On the strength of Ruth Roland's performance (and a few supporting performances) rather than any merits in the turgid script, I'll rate 'Reno' 7 out of 10.
Whereas Pearl White's screen career ended in 1924, Ruth Roland continued to make films into the talkie era, revealing a pleasant voice for speaking and -- here in 'Reno' -- for singing. Sadly, her screen career had lost momentum even before the cancer that prematurely killed her.
SYNOPSIS: Society matron Felicia Brett (Roland) is unhappily married; she and her husband Alexander have a young son, whom Felicia dearly loves. When it becomes clear that her marriage cannot be saved, Felicia heads for the divorce mecca in Nevada ... but she's determined to retain custody of her son.
One of the deepest flaws in this film is the performance of Montagu Love as Felicia's husband. On an earlier occasion, drama critic Heywood Broun described Love's acting technique as follows: 'He thrusts out his chest and then follows it across the stage.' In 'Reno', Montagu Love plays all his scenes in Snidely Whiplash mode. When Alexander Brett contests his wife's attempts to gain custody of their son, Montagu Love's scenery-chewing makes it clear that Brett is motivated by sheer spite rather than love for the child. It helps a bit that young Bobby Brett is played by a child actor who's actually less twee and more talented than usual.
SPOILERS COMING. Before Felicia has lived in Reno long enough to qualify for the residency status that will enable her to divorce Alexander, he contrives a situation in which she appears to be committing adultery with Dick Belden, her friend from childhood. Using this falsified evidence, Alexander Brett proceeds to take sole custody of Bobby. But then a convenient avalanche kills Brett. As the divorce was not yet final, Felicia is now Brett's widow -- not his ex-wife -- and she's free to marry Belden.
Ruth Roland acquits herself well here, projecting grace and dignity and some sex appeal. Her speaking voice records well, and she has a musical number -- 'As Long As We're Together' -- which she sings splendidly, although the song itself is insipid. Despite her premature death, I'm surprised that she didn't have a better career in early talkies. On the strength of Ruth Roland's performance (and a few supporting performances) rather than any merits in the turgid script, I'll rate 'Reno' 7 out of 10.
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