Tol'able David

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Tol'able David

1921

1h 20m

Drama

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3 Reviews

71%

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250+ Ratings

Young David Kinemon (Richard Barthelmess) lives in a small West Virginia farming village and wants to be taken seriously by those around him -- particularly by the pretty girl (Gladys Hulette) who lives on a nearby farm. When a family of hooligans led by Iscah Hatburn (Walter P. Lewis) moves into town, David watches as they wreak havoc. Hatburn and his sons kill David's dog and injure his brother. After David's father dies, he takes it upon himself to confront Hatburn and his two sons.

Robert E. Sherwood

LIFE

I shall be surprised if 1922 produces another picture, as splendid in its simplicity as Tol'able David.

Oct 6, 2021

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Harriette Underhill

New York Tribune

We left the theater last night vowing it was the best picture of the year (not the new year either).

Nov 7, 2019

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Aug 2, 2005

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Audience Member

Tonight 18.31 at the "Filmclub 813" ,Köln,Hahnenstr., again with Daniel Kothenschulte at the piano !---Wieder ein grosses,dramatisches Stummfilmerlebnis mit ausgezeichneter Klavierbegleitung !

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Audience Member

Lillian Gish was on to it when she said Richard Barthelmess had "the most beautiful face of any man who ever went before the camera". To his credit, I find the slapstick shenangians in the beginning of the film quite pleasant. Henry King, however, doesn't quite pull off the Griffith-esque country picaresque, and moreoever doesn't have his delightful conundrums to pull off the ridiculous melodrama either-- particularly the vigilante justice ending falls flat.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

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Audience Member

Considered by many as a defining silent film that was acted to perfection by Richard Bathloemess who played David. In many ways a melodrama this was predictable but made with passion & care. It's got a heart & a message this film & for 1921 technically it's quite impressive...it's a good old drama...

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

There is a lot of drama going on in this movie, but it's realistic and heartfelt. If you like a good silent drama, see this movie. Personally, it didn't keep my interest enough because it was purely dramatic, and the ending is predictable.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Audience Member

He must deliver the mail.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

With an engaging underdog protagonist, ample use of location shooting, and performances subtler than usual for the era, here's the rare silent movie that doesn't feel awkwardly staged.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

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Henry King

Director

Richard Barthelmess

David Kinemon

Gladys Hulette

Esther Hatburn

Ernest Torrence

Luke Hatburn

Walter P. Lewis

Iscah Hatburn

Ralph Yearsley

Saul "Little Buzzard" Hatburn

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Synopsis

Young David Kinemon (Richard Barthelmess) lives in a small West Virginia farming village and wants to be taken seriously by those around him -- particularly by the pretty girl (Gladys Hulette) who lives on a nearby farm. When a family of hooligans led by Iscah Hatburn (Walter P. Lewis) moves into town, David watches as they wreak havoc. Hatburn and his sons kill David's dog and injure his brother. After David's father dies, he takes it upon himself to confront Hatburn and his two sons.

Director: Henry King
Producer: Henry King
Screenwriter: Edmund Goulding, Henry King
Genre: Drama
Release Date (DVD): Mar 23, 1999
Runtime: 1h 20m