Check out Bela Lugosi's sinister eyes! Nine years before close ups of Lugosi's eyes were a feature in "White Zombie," audiences at silent theaters enjoyed several scenes of Bela's piercing eyes in the 1923 feature film, "The Silent Command."
Lugosi was not a star in 1923, nor was he after this film. However, his screen presence and dark attractiveness was getting him noticed. Hungarian-born movie mogul William Fox was one who certainly was interested in Bela's talent. He likely saw him in plays such as "The Red Poppy" (in English) and "The Tragedy of Man." Lugosi performed that famous play in Hungarian in New York City. Authors Gary D. Rhodes and Kaffenberger, in "Becoming Dracula: The Early Years of Bela Lugosi, Volume Two," surmise Fox may have seen "The Tragedy of Man," and other Hungarian-language plays featuring Lugosi.
So, Bela got the call to be in his first U.S. film, "The Silent Command," a Fox film made with the participation of the United States Navy. It was a "Top Gun"- type propaganda film 60 years before Tom Cruise, and without jet fighters. Directed by J. Gordon Edwards, it starred Edmund Lowe as the hero, Navy Capt. Richard Decatur. Lugosi, (billed incorrectly as Belo), plays the villain, Benedict Hisston, an evil, wealthy, well-connected hater of America who plots to blow up the Panama Canal and subsequently split the U.S. Navy in half.
To stymie Bela's character's nefarious plans, Lowe's Capt. Decatur takes drastic steps. He intentionally strikes an admiral. He is kicked out of the Navy and separates from his longsuffering wife (Alma Tell). Hisston steps up and recruits Peg Williams (Martha Mansfield), a "vampire" in the romantic sense, to seduce Decatur. This is all designed to get Decatur to help Hisston with the terrorist bombing.
"The Silent Command" was a higher budget A picture, partially filmed in Panama, and also in New York City. There are faux newsreels and excellent scenery shots, particularly on the sea. The climax involves an impressive action fight between Lowe's Decatur and Lugosi's Hisston on a boat. The film drags a little midway but it's a solid three-star movie.
It was praised by military leaders. "Becoming Dracula: The Early Years of Volume Two," has a 1923 newspaper ad with General John J. Pershing, commandeer-in-chief of the U.S. Army, and Theodore Roosevelt Jr., Assistant Secretary of the Navy, tub-thumping the film. Some showings included military recruiters at the theater. It was generally well reviewed.
Lowe, who was in four other Lugosi films -- including "Chandu the Magician" -- does a capable job. Lugosi is ridiculously listed sixth in the credits. He's clearly the second lead in the film. As usual, Bela has the best screen presence, evoking emotion and intensity in his role. He's also the best actor in the film. He was ignored in press ballyhoo but was interviewed about his role in Hungarian media. As Arthur Lennig has noted in the biography "The Immortal Count," Lugosi in America reconciled himself to not being a "Valentino" type, instead settling for sinister "villain" roles. Lugosi expressed amusement at being from Hungary, a landlocked nation with no navy.
Martha Mansfield plays her vamp role well. The actress would tragically die in late 1923 after suffering burns while filming a movie.
After "The Silent Command," Lugosi would continue his slow trajectory to stardom that would arrive in 1931. He continued to play villains in future films. In "Daughters Who Pay," he was a Russian spy. In "The Midnight Girl," he was a wealthy, insensitive rake who lusted after his son's girlfriend. He would continue in stage performances and roles in films through the Roaring 20s. "The Silent Command" is easy to find for free on streaming services. It can also be purchased.
-- Doug Gibson
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