Let's Go
Plot
The story follows Richard Talmadge as the irresponsible son of a wealthy company owner who is sent by his father to investigate a problematic business deal in a remote location. Despite his initial reluctance and reputation as a 'no-good' heir, he discovers corruption and criminal activity surrounding the business venture. Using his unexpected physical prowess and quick thinking, he battles the villains threatening the company's interests. The adventure culminates in a series of daring stunts and action sequences as he exposes the wrongdoing and proves his worth to his father. Along the way, he encounters Eileen Percy's character, who becomes both his love interest and ally in uncovering the truth.
About the Production
Richard Talmadge was not only the star but also heavily involved in the production, performing his own elaborate stunts, which was typical of his films. The movie was produced during the height of the silent era when action-adventure films featuring athletic performers were extremely popular. William K. Howard, though relatively early in his career, was already establishing himself as a reliable director of action-oriented pictures.
Historical Background
1923 was a pivotal year in Hollywood history, occurring during the transition from the wild west days of early filmmaking to the more structured studio system. The film industry was consolidating, with major studios like Paramount, MGM, and Warner Bros. establishing dominance. Silent films were at their zenith, with stars like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Douglas Fairbanks drawing massive audiences. Action-adventure films were particularly popular as they transcended language barriers in international markets. This was also the year that Warner Bros. began experimenting with sound-on-disc technology, foreshadowing the coming sound revolution that would soon make silent films obsolete. The economic boom of the Roaring Twenties meant audiences had disposable income for entertainment, and movie theaters were expanding rapidly across America.
Why This Film Matters
While 'Let's Go' itself was not a major cultural milestone, it represents the type of action programmer that filled theater schedules and satisfied audience demand for thrilling entertainment during the silent era. These films helped establish the action genre conventions that would persist throughout cinema history. Richard Talmadge's work as an action star contributed to the tradition of athletic performers turned movie stars, a lineage that would include figures like Douglas Fairbanks, Buster Keaton, and later, Jackie Chan. The film also reflects the 1920s fascination with physical prowess and the celebration of the capable individual overcoming obstacles through skill and determination, themes that resonated strongly with post-WWI American audiences.
Making Of
The production of 'Let's Go' exemplified the factory-like efficiency of early 1920s Hollywood filmmaking, with action pictures being rapidly produced to meet public demand. Richard Talmadge's background as a circus performer and acrobat meant that the film could incorporate elaborate physical sequences without the need for stunt doubles. Director William K. Howard, still early in his directorial career, was learning to balance the technical demands of filming action sequences with storytelling. The film was likely shot quickly on existing studio sets or nearby locations to minimize costs, a common practice for programmer pictures of this type. The collaboration between Talmadge's production company and the studio system represented the transitional period in Hollywood when star power was increasingly translating to production control.
Visual Style
As a 1923 silent action film, 'Let's Go' would have utilized the cinematographic techniques common to the era. The camera work likely featured static shots for dialogue scenes and more dynamic movement during action sequences, possibly employing early tracking shots to follow Talmadge's stunts. The black and white photography would have used high contrast to emphasize the physical action, with lighting designed to highlight the performers' movements. Given the film's action orientation, the cinematographer would have focused on capturing the stunt work clearly and dramatically, using angles that maximized the impact of Talmadge's acrobatic abilities. The film would have been shot on 35mm film at the standard silent frame rate of approximately 16-18 frames per second.
Innovations
While 'Let's Go' was not groundbreaking in technical terms, it exemplified the sophisticated stunt work and action sequencing that had been developed by the early 1920s. The film likely featured carefully choreographed fight scenes and chase sequences that required precise timing between performers and camera. Richard Talmadge's background as a circus performer meant the film could incorporate more elaborate physical feats than typical productions. The technical challenge of capturing these stunts on film without the benefit of multiple takes or advanced editing techniques required considerable planning and skill from both performers and crew. The film represents the refinement of action cinematography techniques that had evolved since the early 1910s.
Music
Like all silent films, 'Let's Go' would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its theatrical run. The specific musical score would have varied by theater size and resources, ranging from a single piano player in small venues to full orchestras in prestigious first-run houses. The music would have been compiled from existing classical pieces, popular songs of the era, and specially composed cue sheets provided by the studio. For an action film, the accompaniment would have emphasized dramatic, rhythmic pieces during chase and fight scenes, with romantic themes for scenes involving the love interest. No original recorded soundtrack exists, as synchronized sound technology was not yet commercially implemented in 1923.
Memorable Scenes
- The film likely featured several stunt sequences showcasing Richard Talmadge's acrobatic abilities, including chase scenes, fight sequences, and physical comedy moments that were characteristic of his work in action films of the silent era.
Did You Know?
- Richard Talmadge was born Sylvester Alphonse Metz and was a former acrobat and circus performer before entering films.
- This film is one of many action vehicles Talmadge made in the early 1920s capitalizing on his physical abilities.
- Director William K. Howard would later go on to direct several notable sound films in the 1930s.
- The film was released during the peak of silent film production, with Hollywood churning out hundreds of features annually.
- Like many silent films of this era, 'Let's Go' likely featured live musical accompaniment during its theatrical run.
- Richard Talmadge was known for performing his own dangerous stunts, a rarity even in the daredevil silent film era.
- The film's title 'Let's Go' was typical of the punchy, action-oriented titles preferred for adventure films of the period.
What Critics Said
Contemporary critical reception for 'Let's Go' appears to be lost to history, as was common for programmer pictures of the silent era that received minimal newspaper coverage. Trade publications like Variety and Motion Picture News likely provided brief reviews focusing on the film's action sequences and Talmadge's performance, but these specific reviews have not been preserved in accessible archives. Modern critical assessment is virtually non-existent due to the film's obscurity and likely lost status. The few film historians who have encountered references to it classify it as typical of Talmadge's work - competently made action entertainment designed to showcase its star's physical abilities rather than break new artistic ground.
What Audiences Thought
Audience reception in 1923 would have been driven primarily by Richard Talmadge's reputation as an action star and the public's appetite for thrilling entertainment. Theater-goers of the silent era were particularly drawn to films featuring spectacular stunts and physical comedy, which 'Let's Go' promised to deliver. The film likely performed adequately in its target market of neighborhood theaters and second-run houses where such programmer pictures were standard fare. Contemporary audience reactions are not documented, but the continued production of similar Talmadge vehicles throughout the 1920s suggests that audiences found sufficient entertainment value in these films to make them commercially viable.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- The Great Train Robbery (1903)
- Douglas Fairbanks action films
- Harold Lloyd comedies
- Buster Keaton's stunt work
This Film Influenced
- Later Richard Talmadge vehicles
- 1930s action serials
- Adventure programmer films
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Film Restoration
The preservation status of 'Let's Go' (1923) is uncertain, and the film may be lost. Like approximately 75% of American silent films, many titles from this period have been lost due to the volatile nature of early nitrate film stock and lack of systematic preservation efforts. No known complete prints or substantial fragments have been documented in major film archives such as the Library of Congress, UCLA Film & Television Archive, or the Museum of Modern Art. The film exists primarily in historical records and trade publication mentions rather than in viewable form.