As I neared my 5,000th film viewing—at least according to my IMDb list, which is based on what I can remember—I decided to select something truly memorable, choosing between this one and 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre'. While that earlier film was also significant, looking back now, I consider this one even better. I haven’t explored much of Vidor's filmography (only ‘The Champ’, ‘Hallelujah’, and ‘The Fountainhead,’ all of which I really liked), but I always knew he was a major American director who deserved respect from anyone serious about movies. Also, I'd long been fascinated by the reputation of John Gilbert—particularly because my favorite actress ever, Greta Garbo, seemed so captivated by him. The film itself proved to be something special. I was really struck by how Vidor managed to combine elements, emotions, and atmosphere with such skill (he’d previously expressed a desire to create a movie that would stay in theaters for years rather than just a week, and said he'd put extra effort into it, especially if the subject matter involved steel, wheat or war). Even though I was watching it for the first time, I figured it would be okay to listen to Jeffrey Vance’s commentary track—which included four interview segments with Vidor from the 1970s. It was a great experience for someone interested in film history, and the accompanying book that came with the blu-ray release added even more depth, featuring numerous photos and essays about this important piece of silent cinema.

Source on TMDB