Rent Underground (1928)

Silent Realism. - Underground review by Steve

Anthony Asquith's first solo credit as director and writer reveals how, in his early films, he looked east and west for inspiration. The opening scenes set in the London Underground are obviously influenced by Soviet documentary realism. This style is then sidelined in the last 30m minutes for a chase which owes more to Hollywood melodrama.

The earlier part is more successful, shot on location with its proletariat characters at work and leisure, living ordinary lives. A London transport assistant (Brian Aherne) meets cute with shop girl (Elissi Landi) but runs into trouble with his sinister rival (Cyril McLaglen), who works at Battersea Power Station.

The film is stolen by a deeply affecting performance by Norah Baring as the dressmaker McLaglen jilts to pursue the more vivacious Landi. The plot is a rudimentary love triangle, but the whole film is made exceptional by Asquith's extraordinary gift for concise, visual story telling. Though the story is deliberately commonplace, it is absorbing, and ultimately thrilling.

His use of the director's tools is so impressive, including the editing, but particularly the photography of industrial London, which is is an artistic gallery of impressionist images. But this is also an entertaining romcom; Brian and Elissi make a most attractive couple. The humour sparkles on the screen. Another silent gem from Asquith.