WEARY RIVER
Starring Richard Barthelmess
PHOTOPLAY
April 1929
(Part Talkie)
Remember "The Prisoner's Song"? Remember how it was
written in prison and how it swept the radio loud speakers of
the land? Courtney Riley Cooper seems to have based his "Weary
River" upon the incident. The brash young gangster of "Weary
River" is sent to prison, reforms, writes a song, sings it
over the radio and wins a pardon. His golden voice redeems his
blonde lady love.
The chief interest of "Weary River" lies in the fact that Richard Barthelmess talks and sings the chief role. He really talks, but the vocalism is a neat piece of song doubling. Barthelmess does splendidly in his first talking appearance.
Betty Compson is the blonde who shares the gangster's joys and sorrows. A strong hit is contributed by William Holden as the prison warden.