The Ace of Hearts [1921]

This Lon Chaney vehicle from 1921 was based on a novel by Gouverneur Morris, author also of The Penalty. The book was inspired by the Red Scare of 1919, but the film gets away from reality in favour of Mabuse-like fantasticality – the subversive organisation [run by a stereotypical bearded anarchist called Ratovich] is less a credible Communist cell than a R.L. Stevenson-style eccentric secret society [which also has elements of Edgar Wallace's Four Just Men]. The set-up is that the members of the gang have inserted themselves into the life of fatcat Mr Morgridge [Hardee Kirkland] as a portrait painter, waiter, etc, to observe his rottenness at first-hand [a process we are told about but never shown, a shame since it would be more interesting than much business which is dramatised]. Having judged that Morgridge is 'the man who has lived too long', the society sit around their hide-out as Lilith [Leatrice Joy] deals the cards, with the eventual recipient of the eponymous ace obliged to assassinate their victim. The ace falls to chubby young idealist Forrest [John Bowers], who has been working as the mark's waiter. At first pleased and excited by the task at hand, Forrest sours on murder when he and Lilith realise they are in love. Since no commie in a 1921 film [or a 1952 one, come to that] could possibly have a political conviction rather than a neurotic condition, it's lack of love in their lives that has turned these folk to the cause. When they start smooching, they become disgusted with their previous actions and repent, though the boss [Raymond Hatton, billed as 'The Menace'] is obviously liable to have them killed if they try to quit. The star is cast as long-haired fanatic named Farralone, who has the usual Chaney case of unrequited love for the heroine. In one scene, he stands outside in the rain looking at the shadows of the lovers on the blinds, petting a small dog and torn between helping and harming Forrest and Lilith. Actually, the film would play better if he were more torn, since that dog reveals what a softie Farralone is – after he has himself drawn the ace of hearts, he takes one of his own bombs to a meeting and sets it off, destroying all the gang. A newspaper account suggests his severed arm is found clutching the card, but we only see a limb stuck out of the rubble. The lovers go free, to sunnier climes. Directed by Wallace Worsley, one of Chaney's regular collaborators, this is frankly a miss: all manner of interesting plot angles are neglected in favour of self-sacrifice and a plodding triangle, though the meeting scenes and the card-dealing gambit prods Worsley to work up some suspense.
KIM NEWMAN

First published in this form here

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