Fortunately, Norma Talmadge partly rejuvenated the reputation of the Sisters for me in Grapevine Video's Going Straight (1916), directed by the Franklin Brothers, Chester and Sidney. Take no notice of the duped black-and-white opening (which fortunately is only a half-reel). With reel two, we are back in the genuine, original, tinted Kodascope footage. Produced on a marvelously generous budget, this movie is splendidly acted by Talmadge, Ralph Lewis (as her husband), Eugene Pallette (a really sinister blackmailer) and Georgie Stone (as Pallette's child-of-the-streets accomplice). Going Straight is a silent thriller that holds up particularly well over more than a whole century after it was made.

Even though Norma Talmadge's signing with National Pictures in 1915 was a fiasco and her popularity, which she had striven so hard for, plummeted, D.W. Griffith saw something in her and signed her to a lucrative deal with the newly formed Fine Arts-Triangle film company. Her roles were diverse and her public popularity soon recovered. "Going Straight" paired her with Ralph Lewis and gave her a role as a respectable married woman and the brains behind a criminal gang.When underworld character Briggs (Eugene Palette) makes the front pages for a series of robberies it causes the respectable Remingtons to remember a past they are trying to forget. John (Ralph Lewis) was once involved in a desperate gang of crooks and his sweet wife Grace was the ringleader!! When police get wind of a robbery that Grace, as a maid in the household, has helped to plan out, the gang is ambushed but gallant John helps Grace escape through a closet door!!Years later the Remingtons have "gone straight" and prospered but when John goes to look at a warehouse for a client he runs into Briggs. The years haven't been kind to Briggs mainly because he hasn't mended his ways and when John responds to a plea for money, Briggs decides to up the ante and go in for a bit of blackmail and is not above using a little paper boy (George Stone) as a decoy!! Once John stops the payments the brazen Briggs comes to the house and threatens to expose Grace for her earlier crimes unless John comes in on a robbery he is planning. Of course the house of the planned break-in just happens to be the one where Grace and the children are visiting for an overnight stay.Just some stunning camera work. Norma found in the Franklyn brothers, directors who harnessed in her sometimes over emotional performances. The close ups here were so effective, when Briggs breaks into Grace's bedroom and realises he wants more from her than just revenge, only their eyes are highlighted - her's fearful, his knowing and cunning. Just a terrific scene.John, downstairs, tinkering with the safe is able to come up, knock Briggs down and fortunately explain to the family that he had come for Grace and the kids. All is not over for Briggs yet...... he has one more chance!!Eugene Palette looking trim (he can certainly climb those drains) and light years away from his podgy detective roles plays Briggs with daring and desperation!!Very Recommended.

Directed by Sidney Franklin. Norma Talmadge and Ralph Lewis star in GOING STRAIGHT (1916). A well-to- do couple, the Remingtons, happily raise their children in the suburbs of New York, but there is a secret from their past that threatens to destroy their happiness. Years before, both of them were involved in a gang of thieves. The husband served his sentence but the wife never got time. Years later, a member of the gang, Dan Briggs, runs into Mr Remington and blackmails him. How far will they go to make sure their past doesn't destroy their future?This film was quite brisk and economical in its pacing. The plot takes some intriguing turns and presents the characters with difficult decisions. It plays a bit more like a modern movie - the story of a couple who have a past that threatens to surface is one that has been used more in recent films than in the silent era. One can feel sympathy for the central couple, and the narrative features enough layers to keep things interesting. Norma Talmadge is very good as Grace Remington, acting with a nuanced naturalism that is quite remarkable. Where many actresses of the time would have done lots of clutching and bug-eyed gestures, Talmadge conveys her character's trepidation with the utmost realism. She uses her large expressive eyes to memorable effect, and gives a solid performance. Ralph Lewis is effective in his role as a husband striving to protect his family. He and Norma Talmadge have good chemistry together despite the obvious age difference. Perhaps most memorable of all was Eugene Palette in his role as the menacing Briggs. His body language, appearance, and overall air of criminal decadence seems like a foreshadowing of Robert Mitchum's performance in CAPE FEAR (1962). Palltte makes an unforgettable heavy, just shifty enough without overplaying. Child actor Georgie Stone is also charming and distiguished as Jimmy, a street waif whom Briggs uses for his schemes, but who finds a sweet and convincing rapport with the Remington children. The direction was quite good, and the editing and cinematography were quite accomplished. There are some interesting touches, like near the end where Remington sees Briggs entering his house - this is conveyed through a reflection on the windows of a china cabinet. Norma Talmadge is given a number of expressive close-ups. Tinting is used effectively as well. One can see some of the influence of Cecil B DeMille in the use of light and shadow. Overall, the movie is visually striking.My wife and I watched this film. She is not as into silent movies as I am, but has been good enough to watch them with me on occasion. She felt that the movie was quite interesting. In my opinion this would be a good picture to introduce newcomers to the world of silent film. Many have the idea of silents as hokey films with overly fast movement and acting of the stagger-and-clutch variety. This film would help to clear up misconceptions about silent movies and may fuel more interest in cinema of this period.GOING STRAIGHT is an excellent film, featuring an interesting plot, memorable and nuanced performances, and accomplished cinematography and direction. Definitely worth checking out for silent movie fans, and even if you're not one, you may find it entertaining. SCORE: 8/10

This story of a family trying to escape its criminal past is highlighted by a fine, expressive performance by Norma Talmadge. Ralph Lewis is solid in his performance of a locksmith, turned safe cracker, turned ex-convict turned successful businessman. But if you have never seen Eugene Palette in a film of this vintage, you will be most surprised by his performance as a career criminal. Palette is slim and trim, and only his eyes are recognizable to fans of his later films. His performance as the career criminal who tries to drag the family back into a life of crime is riveting. The actor usually known for his genial performances as a doting father racks up theft, assault, blackmail, breaking and entering, Faginism, attempted rape, attempted murder and the near murder of a child along the way. There are several good fight scenes, including a brawl and shootout between a criminal gang and the police that would do credit to a small war. This is a fine film for its vintage and well-worth watching for Talmadge's and Palette's performances alone.