The Reckless Age

Lord Harrowby has set the wedding date for his marriage to Cynthia Meyrick of the wealthy Meyrick family. To ensure that his marriage will take place, Harrowby buys a $100,000 insurance policy; if the wedding is called off through no fault of his own, the policy will pay off. Thus, Harrowby will either get rich by marriage or get rich by no marriage. However, the insurance company is loathe to lose money and, to make sure that the wedding takes place, they send an agent, Dick Minot, to fend off any obstacles to the impending nuptials. Of course, while dealing with missing jewels, a fake Lord, and blackmail attempts, Minot falls for the bride to be.A short amusing silent comedy, “The Reckless Age” stars handsome English actor Reginald Denny as Minot. Primarily known for his supporting work in such classics as “Rebecca,” “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House,” and “Anna Karenina,” Denny is the film’s leading man. He displays startling blue-eyed star quality and a flair for comedy and slapstick; he also displays athleticism, especially when throwing a few punches at his antagonists. Lovely Ruth Dwyer plays Cynthia, the object of Minot’s affections and Harrowby’s designs; Dwyer is quite natural and works well with Denny. As the effete Lord Harrowby, William Astin also performs well, and the rest of the cast, today largely unknown, are quite good. Although an early silent, most of the cast avoid the flamboyant “grand style,” but they do let loose during an extended slapstick free for all in a newsroom. The cinematography is crisp, and the projection speed is correct; no jumpy images or sped up motion that stereotypes silent films for many.Reginald Denny’s career peak was during the silent era, but he cannot be called forgotten, because he appeared in quality films into the 1940’s and subsequently worked in television. However, he is largely forgotten as a leading man, and the “The Reckless Age” offers viewers an entertaining opportunity to rediscover what made the Englishman a silent star in Hollywood.