Set during WWI in a small village off the coast of Italy. During the war, a local girl (Mary Pickford) rescues a young man (Fred Thomson) washed up on shore. He claims he is an American deserter and they fall in love. But it's a romance wrapped up in deceit and betrayal and its effects will reach beyond the war's end. Directed by screenwriter Frances Marion (winner of 2 Academy Awards) in the first of only two directorial credits. At the age of 27, Mary Pickford was most famous for playing adolescent girls and she felt it was time to transition to more adult roles so with her friend Frances Marion, they concocted this dramatic romance set against the backdrop of WWI. She's very good as a naive young woman who finds her world tumbling around her and is pushed to the brink of insanity. Heavy stuff but she handles it nicely. The first half of the movie is stronger than its second half when it gets too melodramatic and tries to squeeze the tear ducts. The transfer I saw has been handsomely restored and had an excellent score by Maiah Manser in stereo. With Raymond Bloomer and Evelyn Dumo.
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