Street Angel

US (1928): Drama/Silent (Musical soundtrack with sound effects)

Frank Borzage directs Janet Gaynor, who gives a superb performance as Angela, the little Italian girl who, in escaping the police, stumbles into a circus and falls in love with an itinerant painter in the person of Charles Farrell, whose Gino is no less finely played. They leave for Naples where Gino expects to marry Angela as soon as he gets an order for a painting. There they live for a long time, much as they did in Seventh Heaven, until he gets his commission and returns to the garret with a great basket of provision and the joyful news that they will wed in the morning. But Angela has been recognized by a police sergeant, and is given one hour with Gino before being taken into custody. So she makes merry with a breaking heart, and finally steals out to disappear with her captor. Gino loses heart in his work, and roams the streets in search of his lost sweetheart. Eventually he is led by a girl to the wharves where he comes upon the released Angela and tries to kill her for having deceived him. His pursuit leads him into a church, where over the altar hangs a portrait of the Virgin painted by Gino, with Angela as his model. This - and the look in Angela's eyes - bring him to reason. (Silents Are Golden)

· Best Actress 1927-28: Janet Gaynor (co-nomination with Seventh Heaven and Sunrise)

· Interior Decoration 1928-29: Harry Oliver - Art Direction
· Cinematography 1928-29: Ernest G. Palmer

3 nominations, 1 Award