From 'Lazybones' in 1925 to 'Liliom' in 1930, we witness the development of Frank Borzage from a studio-director to an artist with a style that is so distinct, that his name alone informed movie-goers what they were in for.
The title card says it all. 'William Fox presents Frank Borzage's Liliom.' The director is the star element of the movie - despite featuring Charles Farrell who by that time was a major star of the screen.
Of his Fox movies, 'Liliom' may be Borzage's most extravagant picture and the very peak of his expression of love, faith and how it transcends everything, even death. The influence of F.W. Murnau on Borzage can easily be seen in Borzage's '7th Heaven' which was made the same year as Murnau's 'Sunrise.' 'Liliom' reveals how Borzage borrowed from Murnau, but made the use of extraordinary set design, photography and sheer romanticism his own signature.
Photographed by Chester Lyons and set design by Harry Oliver, 'Liliom' features an extraordinary fantasy world of fairground life, stiking lighting design and early talking performances that are so carefully delivered as to become almost hypnotic. Subtlety is abandoned in this remarkably sentimental movie - Borzage was a master of making sentimentality work.
But like 'Lazybones' which pre-dated Murnau's arrival at Fox, Borzage's view of romance is askew to modern audiences. In 'Lazybones,' Fox's cowboy star Buck Jones raises a little girl, only to fall in love with her when she reaches adulthood - creating an impossible conflict of the heart. Charles Farrel plays the no-good Liliom, a carousel worker who considers himself an artist. He strikes his true love Rose Hobart and later confesses, 'I beat you, not because I was mad at you, but because I could bare to see you cry. But I'm not asking for forgiveness - I don't do that, I don't.' Later in the film, after 10 years in pergotory, Liliom returns and meets his 10 year-old-daughter - who he strikes across the face in a rage. But the smack doesn't hurt as Borzage reveals that mother and daughter are touched by Liliom's love - even if it comes in the form of a slap. Today's audiences may well be shocked by Borzage's portrait of domestic violence as a form of love. Borzage, like Liliom, does not ask for forgiveness.
Frank Borzage reveals his ideal for women as Rose Hobart is seen with a halo visual behind her.
Central to Borzage's achievement is the glowing performance of Rose Hobart as Julie. The original intent was to pair Borzage's '7th Heaven' stars Farrel and Janet Gaynor - but Gaynor was in dispute with the studio and passed up the movie and a $44,000 paycheck. Rose Hobart replaced Gaynor and delivers a soulful performance, and was so lovingly photographed that she looks like Greta Garbo in a George Hurrell photograph come to life. However, in 'Double Feature Creature Attack' by Tom Weaver (McFarland, 2003), Hobart recalls that shooting 'Liliom' was not without its problems. Thirty-six takes were required to capture the death scene, with Borzage choosing to print takes #18 and #36. Hobart asked, 'Frank, will you do me a favor? Will you print the first take?' She was convinced that her first performance had been the best, but the next day, when the dailies were screened, Hobart realized that Borzage's instincts had been right and the later takes were much better. 'I said to Frank, "Thank you so much for doing this. I would never have believed it if I hadn't seen it." And he said, "The one thing you've got to remember is that you must emote for that one first take before you can give one that is great for film." That's how I learned to become a movie actress.'
Ironically, Hobart had played the child role in 'Liliom' on stage in Atlantic City. She had tested for both Fox and Universal and was put under contract with the latter. However, before her start date with the studio, Fox offered her the lead role in the movie version of 'Liliom.' 'How can I not do that?' she recalls of the offer. 'That was my play, I knew every line in it.'
'Liliom' is part of the new Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment collection, 'Murnau, Borzage & Fox' - on sale December 9, 2008.
- RA
One of Rose Hobart's later starring roles.
