The Artist-In Honor of Thespians Felled By Sound ***

Rating: 7/10 (7 June 2012)

The story is definitely a tribute to the likes of John Gilbert and other thespians, who with the coming of sound in films by 1927, lost their status.
Mr. DuJardin's performance evokes such emotion which was probably most typical for the period. The showing of auctioning off his possessions and attempted suicide were most probable for the period.
It also showed the love of one woman who stuck by him and saved him during this difficult time. It also showed that the way back to success was by dancing and singing.
John Cromwell co-stars as the dedicated butler and there is a very good silent performance by John Goodman as the director, hard to the core, but nonetheless warned by his lover to take him back.
The picture was probably average and for the most part,it didn't really deserve the best picture of the year Oscar. That honor should certainly have gone to "The Help."