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The Way of All Flesh

Play trailer Poster for The Way of All Flesh Released Jun 25, 1927 1h 30m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 42 Reviews 50% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Devoted family man and bank worker August Schilling (Emil Jannings) leaves Milwaukee for the first time to deliver bonds to a bank in Chicago. On the train, August falls prey to the seductive advances of Mayme (Phyllis Haver), the girlfriend of gang leader The Tough (Fred Kohler). When The Tough's gang attacks him, August resists, hurling the leader into an oncoming train. A shell-shocked August then assumes The Tough's identity and sets off on a far more difficult journey than he'd planned.
The Way of All Flesh

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Critics Consensus

A weakness for melodrama dampens its impact, but Emil Jannings' outstanding performance makes The Way of All Flesh worth following.

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Critics Reviews

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Ella H. McCormick Detroit Free Press Great care has been shown in the backgrounds for this photodrama and meticulous attention to detail has been exercised. Jul 14, 2021 Full Review Wilella Waldorf New York Post Are the early and middle portions of the picture good enough to outweigh the atrocious third section in which every known tear-inducer but the homely onion is tossed at the audience? Thinking it over calmly, we are inclined to answer in the affirmative. Jul 14, 2021 Full Review Edmund Wilson The New Republic The producers have been so much afraid of launching the European Jannings without sufficient ballast of American hokum... that they have wasted much first-rate ability on what is essentially a maudlin film. Jul 14, 2021 Full Review Carl Sandburg Chicago Daily News Jannings is incomparably the greatest of all screen actors, unless it be that the aforesaid Charles Spencer Chaplin can tie him. Dec 14, 2021 Full Review Robert E. Sherwood LIFE Mr. Jannings is as good as he was in The Last Laugh and Variety, if not better; the picture itself, while not quite up to the high level of these two outstanding instances, is creditable and admirable. Oct 5, 2021 Full Review Mila Landis Sacramento Bee Even the artificialities of Hollywood have not yet touched the fine acting of Jannings, as is proved by his excellent character work in The Way of All Flesh. May 21, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member This is a lost film as only two fragments survive both from the ending, including the only color footage of Clara Bow. It is the only Academy Award winning performance (Jannings) with no known complete copy of the film. It is one of Victor Flemings' many lost silent films of the 1920s. It was remade in 1940. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member From the two fragments I have seen that show the ending, The Way of All Flesh looks like a really intriguing film. It makes me wonder what happened to Jannings' character in this film to separate himself from his family and most notably his successful son. From these two reels, it gives you a glimpse to Jannings' performance that led him to win the first Best Actor Oscar. I might watch the 1940 remake to have a better understanding of the story. Hopefully, the film will be found in the future although it seems unlikely. It's also funny that the film is "Certified Fresh" with a critics consensus even though the film is lost. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member I have one question to the rotten tomatoes staff. Where Film? Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Steve D I didn't find the story at all engaging, the fragments available unimpressive. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 04/30/23 Full Review Ametrine A Only about three minutes of this film still exist, which can easily be found on Youtube. Even with just those three minutes, Jannings' performance shines through. It's a shame film preservation came too late for great performances like I'm sure this one was. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/14/19 Full Review Audience Member Jannings' the only Academy Award-winning performance with no known complete copy of the film preserved. And just watching the only two parts that existed know you can see how great is his performance in this picture. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Devoted family man and bank worker August Schilling (Emil Jannings) leaves Milwaukee for the first time to deliver bonds to a bank in Chicago. On the train, August falls prey to the seductive advances of Mayme (Phyllis Haver), the girlfriend of gang leader The Tough (Fred Kohler). When The Tough's gang attacks him, August resists, hurling the leader into an oncoming train. A shell-shocked August then assumes The Tough's identity and sets off on a far more difficult journey than he'd planned.
Director
Victor Fleming
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation
Genre
Drama
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 25, 1927, Original
Runtime
1h 30m