A Cottage on Dartmoor (or Escape from Dartmoor) (1929) is one of the last British silent movies, and it's a great one. It's one of those technically brilliant films which makes many a film nerd mourn the death of silent film. There are barely any intertitles at all, yet it eloquently tells its story of obsession and violence. The photography is gorgeous, proto-noir in its use of light and shadow to suggest danger and madness.
Unfortunately, the film is saddled with a ridiculous ending. While I'm all for redemption and characters having hidden dimensions, the protagonist's shift from crazy jealous would-be murderer to simpering, apologetic lover was jarring and poorly set up-- actually, it wasn't set up at all! I'm not saying it couldn't have been done, but it should have been set up earlier in the story. Otherwise, this is a fine film, borderline Hitchcockian in its feel and themes.
Unfortunately, the film is saddled with a ridiculous ending. While I'm all for redemption and characters having hidden dimensions, the protagonist's shift from crazy jealous would-be murderer to simpering, apologetic lover was jarring and poorly set up-- actually, it wasn't set up at all! I'm not saying it couldn't have been done, but it should have been set up earlier in the story. Otherwise, this is a fine film, borderline Hitchcockian in its feel and themes.