The gentleman thief “Heliotrope” Harry Harlow is sent to prison for murdering his wife’s lover. Before he surrenders to the police, he leaves his infant daughter at the doorstep of a wealthy couple to protect her from her scheming mother. But the latter does not give up the search for her daughter even after Heliotrope is released from prison... According to David O. Selznick, legendary producer of GONE WITH THE WIND, FORGOTTEN FACES was his “first real production”. Notable about this gripping crime melodrama are the expressionistic lighting, sophisticated transitions and fluid camera work.

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FORGOTTEN FACES is a tribute to the directorial skill of Victor Schertzinger. It is one of the finest motion pictures turned out by Famous Players lately, and is a remarkable piece of work, judged by any standards. Clive Brook, William Powell, and Olga Baclanova have the leading roles, with Brook being featured. The story of FORGOTTEN FACES is well done; since it contains what is to me the best quality of all – logic. There is nothing overdrawn or impossible in the entire picture. It is human, so it naturally will appeal to the greater majority of fans. Schertzinger retained all the power of the story in the picture, and his intelligent use of the camera made it very impressive. […]
Another thing about Schertzinger’s direction which appeals to me is his regard for the intelligence of his audience. He leaves something to the imagination, since lapses are very deftly put over, another point in the director’s favor. The dramatic scenes were well done, although with troupers such as I have mentioned they could not help but be good. They had power and force and also gave the impression of being real, not acted, which is a quality very rarely attained on the screen.
Although the picture was eight reels long, there wasn’t a moment when the interest flagged. It seemed like about six.
The Film Spectator, 21 July 1928