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Street Angel is a silent film released in 1928, a period known as the tail end of the silent era before "talkies" took the world by storm. Directed by Frank Borzage, the movie is a melodrama with a heart-tugging romantic narrative. It is set in picturesque Naples and brings together a compelling storyline, exemplary acting, and innovative filmmaking techniques of the time.

The film stars Janet Gaynor as Angela, a vulnerable and destitute young woman living in the slums of Naples. Gaynor's performance in Street Angel was one of the roles for which she received the first ever Academy Award for Best Actress (the award was given at the time for her work in three films including "Street Angel"). Charles Farrell plays the role of Gino, a struggling but cheerful painter who shows great promise in his art. The film also features Natalie Kingston in a supporting role, adding to the tapestry of characters populating the world of the film.

The story of Street Angel unfolds as Angela, who is desperately trying to scrounge up money for her sick mother’s medicine, is compelled to walk the fine line between morality and survival. In a moment of dire need, she resorts to theft, but her actions lead to dire consequences when she's pursued by the law. As she tries to escape her desperate plight, fates conspire to lead her to Gino, who unwittingly becomes a ray of hope and love in her bleak world.

Gino and Angela’s lives become entwined in a whirlwind romance that blooms amidst their shared adversity. He is captivated by her beauty and resilience, while she finds solace and safety in his company and his art. Farrell and Gaynor share an enchanting on-screen chemistry that embodies the innocence and intensity of young love, a trademark that would lead them to co-star in several more movies together, solidifying their status as a beloved romantic pairing of the era.

The Naples setting provides a lush, almost ethereal backdrop that enhances the film’s sense of romanticism and drama. Rich with Italian culture, the on-location shooting presents an authentic portrayal of the time, from the street life to the architecture, giving audiences a vivid tableau against which the story plays out. The cinematography captures the charm and darkness of the city and provides a silent but powerful character within the film that contrasts and complements the journey of its protagonists.

Director Frank Borzage masterfully uses the expressive power of the silent film medium to tell his story, highlighting the actors' skilful use of body language and facial expressions to convey deep, unspoken emotions. Borzage, known for his focus on the spiritual and redemptive aspects of romantic relationships, embeds these themes into the film’s narrative arcs, as his lead characters navigate the trials and tribulations of love against a tapestry of social and personal obstacles.

The movie also utilizes a notable score that aligns with the emotional beats of the film. Even though the audiences of the time would only have heard the music if they saw the movie in a large cinema with a live orchestra, the score was composed to guide the audience through the highs and lows of the story, almost as a character itself. Today, restored versions of the film include this musical accompaniment, allowing modern audiences to experience the movie as originally intended.

Street Angel was part of the late 1920s wave of films released during the transition between silent cinema and sound films. It was hailed at the time for its cinematic techniques, including impressive tracking shots and inventive use of lighting to create mood and atmosphere. These elements demonstrated that silent films had reached a high level of artistic sophistication before the dawn of the sound era changed the course of cinema forever.

The film occupies a significant place in the annals of cinema history, not just for its artistic achievements but also as an example of early 20th-century storytelling and representation. Street Angel offers a tantalizing glimpse into a past era of filmmaking and stands as a testament to the timeless power of visual storytelling. It is revered both as an example of the silent film genre at its peak and as a narrative that continues to resonate with the enduring themes of love, redemption, and the human spirit's resilience.

Street Angel is a 1928 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3.