Why Be Good? (1929)

Just perfect...

Great Film overall

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

Dreadful picture. One of the worst pictures I have seen from 1929. The main characters awaken absolutely no sympathy from the viewer. Watching the 30 year old Colleen Moore trying to act like a dumb teenager is absolutely ridiculous. Furthermore, the thought of someone like Neil Hamilton (or any sane person for that matter) falling in love with such a silly ridiculous person (dressed in some of the most ridiculous fashions I have seen) is beyond belief. Almost every other women in the picture, including the extras, are much more attractive that she is. I am also shocked on how bad the Synchronized Score is, especially as this is a First National picture, as all other example of Synchronized musical scoring I have heard from 1928-1929 for First National pictures are quite elegant and tasteful. The music in the dancing sequences is crass and annoying and I find it hard to believe that the extras were dancing to anything even remotely sounding like that.If you look at film trade reviews from the period, the film did very poorly upon release. I'm surprised that First National produced two expensive all talking musicals ("Smiling Irish Eyes" and "Footlights and Fools" with Technicolor sequences) in 1929 after this disaster.. again starring Colleen Moore... which are lost but frankly after seeing this film it is no great loss if her acting in those pictures was even remotely similar to that she gives in the disaster known as "Why Be Good"

For some reason, most of the Morrisons had to change their names -- or thought they had to change their names -- to become famous.Kathleen Morrison got into pictures somewhat accidentally, as someone was doing a favor for one of her important relatives. And it was figured that, in six months or so, she'd be tired of movies and go back home.Ha.In fact, as Colleen Moore, she became one of the most popular stars of filmdom, and when you see her in "Why Be Good?" you will immediately understand why.Naturally I might seem prejudiced toward my cousin, but even before I learned she had been born a Morrison, I loved and admired her. In the late lamented Silent Movie Theatre, the great John Hampton presented her "Orchids and Ermine" about every year.She just stole my heart, even with a very, VERY young Mickey Rooney trying to steal the movie. (In a wonderfully whimsical touch, the then-7-year-old was still "Mickey McGuire" and his character was a Texas midget. And even at 7, he was fully capable of stealing a scene or a whole movie.)In "Why Be Good?" she plays a character with the appropriate name of "Pert Kelly" (making me think of the long-time actress Pert Kelton). Pert and perky she was, just totally adorable.And beautiful.Colleen Moore could express any emotion, and was an actress dedicated to being a good actress, not just a star.Her autobiography, "Silent Star," is a very good read, and her fame continues, with a website dedicated to her: https://sites.google.com/site/colleenmooresite/"Why Be Good?" was presented by Turner Classic Movies on 5 December 2016 as part of a tribute to Vitaphone on its 90th birthday. "Good" was originally produced with synchronized sound on a disc, and its restoration is a story in itself."Why Be Good?" is now available, according to the above website, as a DVD and I know I want a copy. It's a good movie, but it's a great performance by and a great chance to see Colleen Moore.There is a preview clip, and other videos, including supposed full movies of Colleen Moore at YouTube.

You can say that this is a mix of It,Saturday Night kid and Love Trap and our Modern Maiden. Colleen Moore did a few of her vehicles ,back in the twentieth ,focusing on the flapper, such as Flaming Youth, which only a fragment survives.The music that was used in this silent film sounded exactly like the music of Hugo Riesenfeld , that was used in the King of Kings.I though First national had used him,but, the credit stated Max Terr and Irving Talbot.So they were copying some of his king of king score.They had also include pop tunes of that times in the score,some that I heard live 365 oldies station.What made me think of Saturday night kid was the fact that Jean Harlow played a part in it and she had an uncredited part in This feature.I did not notice her .I also did not notice Micha Auer in it neither.Like Clara Bow,Colleens character is a good girl who pretends to be sexually wild ,out of fear she won't be excepted .A working girl in a department store She goes out with her friends for dancing and drink booze moderately.She live with her parents,played by Edward Martindel and Bodil Rosing.Her father disproves of it , but her mother is understanding knowing she does not do wrong.I got the impression that it was made in 1927 and held back until 29,because it looked that way,but, in the inter title card the date mentions 1929.It's when Colleen is going out with her new beau played by Louise Natheaux, is when she meets Winthrop ,played by Neil Hamilton, practically almost the same similar role he played in the Love trap, that she falls in love with him.His father ,who runs the department store,in which Winthrop manages,does not think she good for him ,so he fired her.Collen thinks it might of been Winthrop,but Winthrop did not realize it.The father disapproving the engagement for the ex shop girl,suggest to test her of her virtue.The test all falls out,that she hold her virtue.Considered a lost classic for years and was restored last year with the aid of the Vitaphone project .Worth collecting 11/14/14

Colleen Moore stars as Pert Kelly, a sales girl in a department store by day and a jazz baby by night. One night she meets a guy (Neil Hamilton) who happens to be the son of the department store owner. They hit it off, but when she's late for work the following morning, she's called into his office and they discover who they are. She's fired by the store owner, but she thinks the son did it. Rich daddy tries to protect his son from that kind of girl and talks him into testing her by taking her to a hotel to see how she reacts. Is she a good girl? Does it matter? After all, why be good? Moore is terrific as the dance-crazed flapper (who still lives at home with mom and pop). With her signature hair-do and skimpy dresses, she the very picture of the silent flapper. Hamilton is also good as the naïve son. Co-stars include Jack Norton as the drunken boyfriend, Bodil Rosing as the mother, John St. Polis as the father, and Edward Martindel as the store owner. Look fast for Grady Sutton, Mischa Auer, and Jean Harlow among the revelers.This film was recently released on DVD after a massive effort to restore its video elements from several sources and its excellent Vitaphone soundtrack. After being listed as a lost film for many decades, we now have a shiny new version restored and available.