Helen Chandler in the 1930 Film DAYBREAK

DAYBREAK
Helen Chandler shines in a heartbreaking tale of a misunderstanding gone terribly awry.

A good-girl-turned-bad tale for the modern day of 1930, DAYBREAK stars the loveable Ramon Navarro (who became an international superstar after his title role in 1926's BEN HUR) and showcases the wide range of acting talent possessed by Helen Chandler. Ramon plays Willi, a good-hearted playboy who serves in the Austrian Imperial Guard under his high-ranking uncle. He often exceeds a generous allowance provided to him by his elder and is finally given an ultimatum - marry well-to-do and attractive Emily or forfeit further financial aid. He reluctantly agrees.

While visiting Madame Sakas, a high-end bordello gambling den, Willi and his mates are met by the plump cigar-smoking hostess who apparently knows them well. Nearby and clearly out-of-place, shy music instructor Laura (played by a youthful Ms. Chandler) appears uncomfortable as she waits to borrow sheet music from wealthy socialite Herr Schnabel. Upon witnessing her endure the unwelcome advances of the older man, Willi takes matters into his own hands - literally. Laura eventually falls to his charm and agrees to join him to a wine garden, after making it clear that she finds him to be "perfectly depraved". Helen turns in a wonderful comedic performance in the scene presented here in which Laura becomes intoxicated, presumably for the first time. With wide-eyed expressiveness and comedic timing reminiscent of the screwball humor Lucille Ball would employ just a few years later, Helen truly shines. During a carriage ride to her home, Laura notes that it's "daybreak" and admits to Willi that she is afraid she is in love with him.

Later, the two are seated in the kitchen of Laura's apartment with a joyous vibe that implies that they found each other quite compatible sexually. Of course, storylines of such early films leave much to the imagination, and one must 'read between the lines' to decipher the subtext. After a lengthy stunning close-up of Helen (at the height of her beauty), she remarks that she was previously "frightened" about what to serve him for breakfast, which leads Willi to believe that his stay-over may have been premeditated, a gesture of a 'lady of the evening'. He discreetly leaves her payment, but when Laura sees the money she is heartbroken to realize she was mistaken for a prostitute. Willi later apologizes "if there was a misunderstanding" but Laura won't listen. Instead, her shock leads her into somewhat unreasonable tailspin and into the paying arms of Herr Schnabel. She credits Willi for encouraging her to embrace the life of being a whore. With Laura's liberation at stake, Willi (who previously had luck gambling to help a desperate friend) gets in over his head playing cards against Mr. Schnabel. Unfortunately, he loses more money than he can possibly repay.

The chemistry between Ramon and Helen is undeniable. They seem thoroughly at ease with one another, producing wonderfully charming results. I believe it apparent the two actors got along famously. Helen once claimed that she could "read the character of a person from across the room" and was probably hip to Gay culture, an aspect which she may have appreciated and enjoyed while working with Ramon. In fact, I wish they had been paired again in other projects (much as I wish Bela Lugosi and Helen were able to reprise their roles in a Dracula sequel - Universal screwed the public!). Perhaps the fact that Helen's husband at the time, screenwriter Cyril Hume, was credited with writing the dialogue contributed to the positive effect. They married in 1930, possibly prior to filming, or could have even met on the set and wed shortly thereafter. Either way, Helen's demeanor speaks happiness beneath her role; this was a part she sank her teeth into. Out of the 16 of her 27 films Ive seen, she seems most at ease, dynamic and witty, in Daybreak.

- Brooke Ellis

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• helen chandler
• ramon navarro
• dracula
• 1930
• daybreak

[JamesReclaimed]

where can i find this movie?

[Bekah474747]

Who cares! He's gorgeous...funny. If he were alive today I'd try to turn him back-:-)

I was flipping through a few movies one day and saw him in Call Of The Flesh. Read the biography by Andre Soares, BEYOND PARADISE. Great read on this talented overlooked actor. Although a lot of his movies have been lost, this one is not on that list.

[Libertine1789]

So that guy, Ramon Navarro, really is gay? Wow, before today I had never heard of him, but when I started to watch this video (and before I looked up further info on him), I thought "That guy is kind of effeminate, I wonder if he's gay?"

[phigilbert]

Is there any way to get the complete film on Youtube? I would love it!