Book Review: Bare Knees Flapper: The Life and Films of Virginia Lee Corbin

There are several layers to Tim Lussier’s new biography of silent screen actress Virginia Lee Corbin, from McFarland publishers. This is a woman who had once been a child star in silent movies during the late teens and early 20s, then uncharacteristically evolved into a noted adult actress by the end of the decade. So many child actresses reach the awkward age and never outgrow it. But Virginia Lee Corbin developed into a mature beauty who continued to do some fine work as an adult.

What thwarted any further study of Ms. Corbin’s life and work, even to the formidable Kevin Brownlow, who admits as much in this book’s Foreword, is the fact that so little existed about Virginia. Her impact during the 1920s might have been significant enough, but it failed to live on. Few of her films existed, and even less about her life.

One notable exception was a feature she made in 1928 for director Erle C. Kenton. “Bare Knees” featured Virginia as dazzling big city flapper who causes a societal disruption when she visits her small town sister. It’s a fun movie and has been readily available on the collector market since the VHS days, this writer having reviewed a tape from Grapevine Video from Classic Images around 25 years ago. Author Lussier also connected with this movie and decided to investigate Corbin’s life and career. He did a remarkable job. Despite so little to be found, Lussier has created a definitive biography and a complete filmography that allows us to better understand and appreciate yet another silent movie star whose career had been lost to time.

Virginia Lee Corbin’s career started out promising, with her becoming one of the most popular child stars of the silent era. Between movies, she would go on vaudeville and personal appearance tours where crowds would stand in line to see her in person. She was promoted as a “child artist” due to her natural ability to exhibit nuance to her roles in such films as “Jack and the Beanstalk” (1917), “Treasure Island” (1918), and the Tom Mix starrers “Six Shooter Andy” and “Ace High” (both 1918).

Her child star period ended in 1920 when she was 10 years old, but in 1924, directors like King Vidor and James Cruze recognized her ability to transition from child roles to more adult parts. She initially was a supporting player, but her status, and billing, quickly grew. Along with “Bare Knees,” Corbin appeared in the minor comedy classic “Hands Up” with Raymond Griffith, and several others.

Through all of this, Virginia Lee Corbin’s life was not as successful as her silent movie career. A difficult marriage, the suicide attempt of her mother, a faltering career once talkies hit, and her own impulsive lifestyle were all factors that led to her death in a sanitarium at the very young age of only 31. At the time, Virginia was attempting to make a comeback in sound films.

When author Lussier wrote an article about Virginia for his Silents Are Golden website, he was contacted by Corbin’s sons, who were seeking more information about her mother, who had died when they were young. They were a significant help to Lussier’s project, resulting in a book that is filled with more detail about Virginia’s life than one could imagine possible. The book also features an annotated filmography that offers complete info about each of Corbin’s movies, including their current day availability. Sadly, so many of her films are lost or otherwise unaccounted for.

It is always commendable when lesser known performers benefit from the hard work and research of writers and film historians who take the time to explore their life and work. “Bare Knees Flapper” is a quintessential book for anyone interest in film history, and should find a place in any library or research center. Most highly recommended.

The book is available at this link: "Bare Knees Flapper"