NO, it's not on the show, it's on a silent film that was one of the first to be nominated for Best Picture.
The film is set in France during World War 1. A man named Chico (Charles Farrelll) who works in the sewers, helps an innocent poor young woman named Diane (Janet Gaynor) who's been abused by her sister and turned away by her rich uncle. The two begin to fall in love when all of a sudden the war hits. Chico gets drafted to fight in the war, but will always think of her and pray for her through god at 11.
The chemistry between the two characters is remarkably beautiful, touching and heartwarming. Every single time I see them on screen together, I smile and get teary eyes. There's never and I mean never a pointless, bland or dull moment between the two. The two actors play their performances so well that I immediately felt for these characters. They also have so much great development in this film that it makes me love them even more. The relationship is the films Heaven.
The war scenes is the films Hell. I'm not kidding the war scenes look very realistic. We get some realistic battle scenes, as well as some very sad moments, and they really do show the evils of war. The only light side to any of this is when our war hero prays for his love and thinks about her, and as we see him doing it, the camera jumps to her doing the same thing. The war scenes are not that brutal, but they're very realistic and very sad at the same time.
The film is filled with tons of great techniques and puts them in great use. The cinematography is amazing and has plenty of great shots. The score gives the film it's tremendous tone and atmosphere. I also love that you hear singing during some very holy moments and romantic moments. Finally, there's the films dialogue that is very beautifully written and emotional as well.
What I really love about the movie is the talk and symbolism's of Heaven and Hell. Sure, I just mentioned the first and second acts of being Heaven and Hell, but there's a lot more to it. Chico's Hell at the beginning of the film is being in sewers filled with muck and darkness, while his Heaven is his apartment where he lives on the top floor of the building where he can see the stars. Diane's Hell is living in a poor place with her abusive sister, while her Heaven is being and living with Chico. I also love the talk about God and Atheism in the film, which is not just clever dialogue, but it's impressive that the film got away with it at that time. As for the film's title, Chico has to climb 7 stairs to reach his heaven, which is not only is his place but is also where Diane is.
The film is one of the best romantic silent films I've ever seen and is probably one of the most beautiful love stories I've ever seen as well.
RATING 5/5
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