The Coming of Amos (1925) User Reviews (5)

Enjoyable...and like watching a movie serial squeezed into 72 minutes.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 3 March 2010]

This is a very enjoyable silent film but it's short on believability and seems almost like a multi-chapter movie serial squeezed into a full-length film. Things move too quickly and the action is quite improbable, but the overall effort isn't bad for a silent of this era.

The film begins in Australia (Amos Burden--played by Rod La Rocque). An uncouth sheep-man decides to travel to see his uncle who lives on the Riviera (they never say whether it's the French or Italian Riviera or even Monaco, but you assume it's French due to the police costumes). There, he is about as welcome as a boil, as he doesn't fit in to the uncle's society friends. However, inexplicably, the Russian princess (Jetta Goudal as Princess Nadia Ramiroff) is quite taken by Amos and instantly falls in love with him. This is a serious shortcoming in the film, as her infatuation makes no sense--they have nothing in common, they barely know each other and he's a bit of a bumpkin and she's a well-mannered lady.

Unfortunately, a crazy mug named Garcia (Noah Beery, Sr.) feels that Princess Ramiroff is his property--and he's very, very jealous of any man who she falls for--going so far as to arrange accidents to kill them!! When she realizes this, she spurns Amos' affections--as she cares too much for him to see him killed. Eventually, Garcia has her kidnapped and taken to his castle--which is equipped with crazy trap doors that look like they are taken right out of a serial. Amos gives chase and eventually the two men have a showdown--that leads to a wonderfully fitting end.

Overall, a wonderfully entertaining film--in a low-brow sort of way. However, the plot really makes little sense and is one you need to accept despite its limitations. Fun....but also contrived and a bit silly.

A real fun movie!

[JohnHowardReid · 10/10 · 9 July 2017]

Yes, I loved this movie. I thought it was great fun. The scenario is not supposed to be realistic, nor does it aim to preach any sermons or even appeal to the intelligentsia. So it doesn't really matter that Rod La Rocque is nowhere near convincing as an Australian sheep farmer or cattle man or whatever he is. The point is that he makes a great hero and is so thoroughly engaging in both triumph and defeat, we are rooting for him all the way. And his adversary is none other than Noah Beery, a villain's villain if ever there was one!

And the stakes? The hand of the lovely Jetta Goudal. Produced on a grand scale with some really stunning sets, here is an action movie almost all the way, with a bit of delightful time out just here and there for a few slices of of engaging romance.

Chester Gore's stunning sets are nothing short of marvelous and Arthur Miller's photography is absolutely ravishing even in this slightly less than perfect print from Alpha Video. The music score is great too, and doesn't miss a beat from go to whoa!

In all, thoroughly recommended! If you don't enjoy this movie, you have no sense of romance: Romance with a capital "R"! Or maybe you just don't know how to really enjoy silent cinema?

ragged melodrama

[mukava991 · 3/10 · 1 January 2010]

Opening with uninspired stock footage of the Australian outback, this is the story of a sheep farmer (Rod LaRocque) who falls in love with an expatriate Russian princess (Jetta Goudal) while visiting his uncle on the Riviera, only to discover that another man (Noah Beery) already claims her. Here we have all the elements of a fairy tale: an enchanted location, a handsome hero, a wicked adversary in a castle, a damsel in distress. If there was any depth to the novel on which this film was based, it disappeared in the transfer to celluloid. What we get is a love triangle spiked with action involving fists, blades and boomerangs, and a good deal of striving for comic effects from the supporting cast which includes Trixie Friganza and others. Produced but not directed by Cecil B. DeMille, some of the costumes and sets bear his lavish imprint. Perhaps the original score has been lost. The music on the DVD I saw, from a company called "Televista, Inc.," consists of various classical and ethnic standards haphazardly synced to the action; this uneven and not terribly compatible accompaniment does nothing to enhance this raggedly structured melodrama. Also the print quality is far from pristine. Only so-so.

Novelists Despised DeMille

[Single-Black-Male · 22 December 2003]

The William J. Locke estate did not want DeMille to adapt 'The Coming of Amos' into a film because they didn't like his previous work. Having seen the film I can understand their reservation. He just couldn't tell a story at this stage in his career, and I'm surprised that he remained within the industry.

From Australia with Love

[wes-connors · 5/10 · 7 May 2009]

At his Australia sheep station, rancher Rod La Rocque (as Amos Burden) receives an invitation to visit his wealthy uncle, on the French Riviera. There, Mr. La Rocque learns the ways of the world, and falls in love with Russian Princess Jetta Goudal (as Nadia Ramiroff). Unfortunately, the lovers are interrupted by the arrival of well-mannered villain Noah Beery (as Ramón Garcia). Mr. Berry is also aroused by Ms. Goudal, and eventually steals her away, to his castle's dungeon… "The Coming of Amos" is a comedy adventure which goes all over the map, without much cohesion (apart for the boomerang). The castle set ending is nicely produced, though.

***** The Coming of Amos (9/6/25) Paul Sloane ~ Rod La Rocque, Jetta Goudal, Noah Beery