John Ford Silent Films, Part 3: 1920-1922
The Prince of Avenue A through The Village Blacksmith
The following is a list of John Ford silent films. These film pages are taken from Wikipedia entries (with some minor editing). I will be adding bibliographic material and John Ford film stills from my personal collection to add to these pages. Also, I will be adding bibliographic material and references from noted writers.
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The Prince of Avenue A (1920)
Contemporary lobby card
Directed by
John Ford
Produced by
Carl Laemmle
Written by
Charles Dazey
Frank Mitchell Dazey
Charles J. Wilson
Starring
James J. Corbett
Cinematography
John W. Brown
Distributed by
Universal Film Manufacturing Company
Release date
January 11, 1920
Running time
50 minutes
Country
United States
Language
Silent (English intertitles)
The Prince of Avenue A is a 1920 American drama film directed by John Ford. The film is considered to be lost.[1][2]
Plot
As described in a film magazine,[3] Barry O'Connor (Corbett), son of Patrick O'Connor (Cummings), plumber and political power, is called to the residence of William Tompkins (Vroom), Tammany man, whom he is to "put over" in the coming election. Here Barry meets Mary Tompkins (Warren), and mutual admiration results in an invitation to a social affair at the Tompkins home. At the affair Barry's crude ways bring forth criticism and he leaves, offended. His father threatens to withdraw his support of the candidate but later changes his mind. The rupture is later healed when Mary and her father attend a ward ball and Mary leads the grand march with Barry. This begins the romance that culminates in the marriage of Barry and Mary.
· James J. Corbett as Barry O'Connor
· Richard Cummings as Patrick O'Connor
· Cora Drew as Mary O'Connor
· Frederick Vroom as William Tompkins
· Mary Warren as Mary Tompkins
· George Fisher as Regie Vanderlip
· Harry Northrup as Edgar Jones
· Mark Fenton as Father O'Toole
· John Cook as Butler (credited as Johnnie Cooke)
· Lydia Yeamans Titus as Housekeeper
References
1. "Progressive Silent Film List: The Prince of Avenue A". silentera.com.
2. "The Prince of Avenue A". American Silent Feature Film Survival Database.
3. "Reviews: The Prince of Avenue A". Exhibitors Herald. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. 10 (5): 64. January 31, 1920.
The Girl in Number 29 (1920)
The Girl in Number 29 Poster
Directed by
John Ford
Written by
Philip D. Hurn
Based on
The Girl in the Mirror by Elizabeth Jordan
Starring
Frank Mayo
Cinematography
John W. Brown
Distributed by
Universal Film Manufacturing Company
Release date
May 17, 1920
Running time
50 minutes
Country
United States
Language
Silent (English intertitles)
The Girl in Number 29 is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by John Ford based on the novel The Girl in the Mirror (1919) by Elizabeth Jordan. The film is presumed to be lost.[1]
Plot
As summarized in a film publication,[2] Laurie Devon (Mayo) is a New York playwright who, having had one success, refuses to work on another play. One night he sees a woman (Anderson) in an apartment across the street take out a gun and place it to her forehead. He reaches her in time to save her, and she tells him that she is under some terrible evil influence, which she will not disclose. Devon attempts to untangle the mystery and is led on an adventure. The woman is taken to a house on Long Island, where Devon after a fight rescues her. He takes out the revolver and shoots one of the pursuers, who falls to the ground. On returning home, he is heartbroken and tells his sister Barbara (Fair) and his friends that he is a murderer. His sister and two of his friends then confess that the whole thing was a frame-up, that they had hired some actors to stage everything, and that it was an attempt to get the ambitionless author to write again. The revolver used in the suicide attempt by the woman and in the later shooting had blanks. Devon and the woman from the apartment melt into each other's arms at the final fade-out.
Cast
· Frank Mayo as Laurie Devon
· Elinor Fair as Barbara Devon
· Claire Anderson as Doris Williams
· Robert Bolder as Jacob Epstein
· Ruth Royce as Billie
· Ray Ripley as Ransome Shaw
· Bull Montana as Shaw's Secretary
· Arthur Hoyt as Valet
References
1. "Progressive Silent Film List: The Girl in Number 29". silentera.com.
Hitchin' Posts (1920)
Directed by
John Ford
Written by
George C. Hull
Harold Shumate
Starring
Frank Mayo
Cinematography
Benjamin H. Kline
Distributed by
Universal Film Manufacturing Company
Release date
September 1920
Running time
50 minutes
Country
United States
Language
Silent (English intertitles)
Hitchin' Posts is a 1920 American drama film directed by John Ford. It is considered to be a lost film.[1][2]
Plot
As described in a film magazine,[3] Jefferson Todd (Mayo) and Louis Castiga (Harris), brothers-in-law, come to blows on a Mississippi River steamer when Todd discovers Castiga's presence there with a woman usurping the place of his wife, Todd's sister. Todd, a Southern gentleman whose fortune was depleted during the Civil War, is attempting to rebuild it by gambling on the river boats that frequent the great river. He wins four racehorses at poker with Colonel Brereton (Fenton), but refuses to collect the stakes. Brereton insists, and then takes his own life. Brereton's suicide causes Todd to question his new profession. Todd and Castiga again meet at the plantation home of the Colonel's daughter Barbara (Burnham), both having gone there to break the news of her father's death. Castiga's wiliness makes Barbara believe that Todd is an intruder and the cause of her father's ruin. The trouble between the men results in a duel in which Castiga cheats and is driven out of town. Barbara's faith in Todd is established and together they join the great army of homesteaders and go West for the great land lottery that followed the Civil War. They win a race for a homestead involving prairie schooners, buckboards, horse teams, and race horses, but fall victims to a plot hatched by Castiga. In a struggle between the two, Todd is victorious while his enemy meets his death. Love beckons for Todd and Barbara.
Cast
· Frank Mayo as Jefferson Todd
· Beatrice Burnham as Barbara Brereton
· C.E. Anderson as Captain of steamer
· Matthew Biddulph as Major Grey (credited as M. Biddulph)
· Mark Fenton as Colonel Brereton
· Dagmar Godowsky as Octoroon
· Joe Harris as Louis Castiga
· Duke R. Lee as Colonel Lancy (credited as Duke Lee)
· J. Farrell MacDonald as Joe Alabam (credited as J. Farrell McDonald)
References
1. "Progressive Silent Film List: Hitchin' Posts". silentera.com.
2. "Hitchin' Posts". American Silent Feature Film Survival Database.
3. "Reviews: Hitchin' Posts". Exhibitors Herald. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. 11 (15): 103. October 9, 1920.
Just Pals (1920)
Directed by
John Ford
Produced by
William Fox
Written by
John McDermott
Paul Schofield
Starring
Buck Jones
Cinematography
George Schneiderman
Distributed by
Fox Film Corporation
Release date
October 21, 1920
Running time
50 minutes
Country
United States
Language
Silent (English intertitles)
Just Pals is a 1920 American silent Western film directed by John Ford, and was Ford's first film for Fox Film Corporation.[1] John Ford is credited as 'Jack Ford', as was typical for his earliest films.
The film introduces the theme of the partnership between two vagabonds, a young man and a boy, who support and help each other.[2] Buck Jones and Georgie Stone already anticipates some of the elements that will contribute to the extraordinary success of Charles Chaplin and Jackie Coogan in The Kid (1921). The sheriff in the film, played by Duke R. Lee, keeps saying five times in the film, "The law'll take care o' this!"
Plot
The town bum, Bim (Buck Jones), rescues Bill, (Georgie Stone) thrown off a train by brakeman (Bert Appling). Bim gives Bill a bath and promises Mary (Helen Ferguston) to take Bim to school. Bill steals a uniform so Bim can get a job but gets hurt jumping off the train. Bim takes him to the town Doctor (Edwin Tilton) where his wife (Eunice Murdock) discovers Bill may be a runaway with a reward. They plot to keep Bill away from Bim. Mary is wooed by Harvey Cahill (William Buckley). Next, the townspeople come to her for the memorial fund and she gives Bim a note to get the fund from Harvey. Mary supposedly sees a boy drowning some kittens and faints. Bim sees Mary being carried to the doctor, reads the note and confronts Harvey who gives him the money he has stolen. The town sheriff (Duke R Lee) opens the safe to find the money missing. Bim is arrested for returning the money but escapes with Bill. Bim and Bill meet up with outlaws planning to rob the town bank. Bim tries to stop them but the outlaws tie them up. Nearby a car roars down a hill, the driver is thrown out. A boy comes out, frees them and they pursue the outlaws into town. Bim catches them robbing the bank, the towns people catch them. Outlaw (Slim Padgell) claims Bim is one of them and Bim is tied up. Harvey attempts to escape with Mary while Bill tells the sheriff he is the real villain. A rich man appears claiming to be Bill’s father but upon seeing him says he isn’t. The boy from the car turns out to be the man’s son and Bim gets a reward for rescuing him. Harvey is unmasked as the chauffeur who kidnapped the boy and is arrested. Bim and Bill, dressed in suits show up at Mary’s house. Bim stumbles through a proposal and they walk off.
Cast
· Buck Jones as Bim
· Helen Ferguson as Mary Bruce
· Georgie Stone as Bill
· Duke R. Lee as Sheriff
· William Buckley as Harvey Cahill
· Eunice Murdock Moore as Mrs. Stone
· Bert Appling as Brakeman
· Edwin B. Tilton as Dr. Stone (credited as Edwin Booth Tilton)
· Slim Padgett as Outlaw
References
1. "Progressive Silent Film List: Just Pals". Silent Era.
2. Holmstrom, John. The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995, Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, pp. 51–52.
The Big Punch (1921)
Directed by
John Ford
Written by
John Ford
Jules Furthman
Starring
Buck Jones
Barbara Bedford
Cinematography
Frank B. Good
Distributed by
Fox Film Corporation
Release date
February 13, 1921
Running time
50 minutes
Country
United States
Language
Silent (English intertitles)
The Big Punch is a 1921 American Western film directed by John Ford.[1] No copy of the film is known to survive in either a public repository or private collection, so it is currently presumed to be a lost film. In France, the film was known under the title Un homme libre ("A Free Man").[1]
Plot
As summarized in a film publication,[2] Buck (Jones) consents to study for the ministry, and before leaving attempts to convince his worthless brother Jed (Curtis) to sober up and stay home with their mother (Lee) during Buck's absence. On the eve of his leaving Buck is implicated in a murder committed by Jed and his gang. Buck serves two years and upon his release completes his study for the ministry before returning home. People ridicule him and laugh at the "jailbird minister," as they call him. During one of his services, his brother and two pals enter the church to hide from the prison officials who are after them. Buck shields them, and they later come to his aid when Flash McGraw (Siegmann), the owner of a dance hall, has lured Hope Standish, a Salvation Army girl (Bedford), to his room, and Buck has to fight the whole gang. A girl who believes McGraw is "throwing her over" reveals that McGraw "framed" the murder charge on Jed and his pals. This gives the men their freedom and clears Buck, leaving him free to marry the Salvation Army girl.
Cast
· Buck Jones as Buck
· Barbara Bedford as Hope Standish
· Jack Curtis as Jed
· George Siegmann as Flash McGraw
· Jack McDonald as Friend of Jed's
· Al Fremont as Friend of Jed's
· Jennie Lee as Buck's Mother
· Edgar Jones as The Sheriff
· Irene Hunt as Dance Hall Girl
References
1. "Progressive Silent Film List: The Big Punch". Silent Era..
2. "The Big Punch: All Right for Program Offering But Star Has Had Better Stories". Film Daily. New York City: Wyd's Films and Film Folks, Inc. 15 (41): 19. February 13, 1921.
The Freeze-Out (1921)
Directed by
John Ford
Written by
George C. Hull
Starring
Harry Carey
Helen Ferguson
Cinematography
Harry M. Fowler
Distributed by
Universal Film Manufacturing Company
Release date
April 9, 1921
Running time
50 minutes
Country
United States
Language
Silent (English intertitles)
The Freeze-Out is a 1921 American Western film directed by John Ford and starring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be a lost film.[1]
Plot
As described in a film publication summary,[2] the Stranger (Carey) comes to town of Broken Buckle to start a gambling hall. The Headlight, the existing gambling hall, is crooked, and the Stranger wants to start a straight one. He meets Zoe Whipple (Ferguson) who is attempting to reform the town and teaches school out of her home. Misunderstandings arise between the Stranger and Zoe that are brought about by Denver Red (Le Moyne), proprietor of the Headlight. After Zoe pleads with the Stranger not to start a new gambling den, the Stranger opens it to the public, but it turns out to be a new library and school. After running Denver out of town, the Stranger wins Zoe.
Cast
· Harry Carey as Ohio, the Stranger
· Helen Ferguson as Zoe Whipple
· Joe Harris as Headlight Whipple
· Charles Le Moyne as Denver Red
· J. Farrell MacDonald as Bobtail McGuire
· Lydia Yeamans Titus as Mrs. McGuire
References
1. "Progressive Silent Film List: The Freeze-Out". silentera.com.
2. "The Freeze-Out: The Star is Good, But Story Is Tame". Film Daily. New York City: Wyd's Films and Film Folks, Inc. 16 (10): 9. April 10, 1921.
The Wallop (1921)
Directed by
John Ford
Produced by
John Ford
Written by
George C. Hull
Eugene Manlove Rhodes
Starring
Harry Carey
Cinematography
Harry M. Fowler
Distributed by
Universal Film Manufacturing Company
Release date
May 9, 1921
Running time
50 minutes
Country
United States
Languages
Silent
English
The Wallop is a 1921 American western film directed by John Ford and starring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be lost.[1]
Plot
As described in a film publication, John Wesley Pringle (Carey),[2] an adventurer, returns to Gadsden to claim the girl Stella (Golden), only to find out that she is in love with Chris Foy (Steele).
Chris has been accused of a murder that he did not commit. Sheriff Matt Lisner (Le Moyne) searches Stella's house for Chris but finds out that he is hiding in the mountains. Sheriff Lisner and his crowd set off for the mountains to get Chris and claim a reward for his capture. John gets to the mountains by a back route and pretends to rescue Chris, but he surprises both the Sheriff and Chris by claiming the reward for himself.
John then orders Sheriff Lisner to release Chris, saying that this was all a ruse to rescue Chris and get him safely from the mountain top. John then reveals evidence which shows that Lisner is the real murderer, and Chris returns to Stella, while John goes on his way without ever revealing his love for the girl.
Cast
· Harry Carey as John Wesley Pringle
· Mignonne Golden as Stella Vorhis
· William Steele as Christopher Foy (as William Gettinger)
· Charles Le Moyne as Matt Lisner
· Joe Harris as Barela
· C. E. Anderson as Applegate
· J. Farrell MacDonald as Neuces River
· Mark Fenton as Major Vorhis
· Noble Johnson as Espinol
References
1. "Progressive Silent Film List: The Wallop". Silent Era.
2. "The Wallop: Another Good One to Please Carey's Admirers". Film Daily. New York City: Wyd's Films and Film Folks, Inc. 16 (38): 11. May 8, 1921.
Desperate Trails (1921)
Directed by
John Ford
Written by
Elliott J. Clawson
Courtney Ryley Cooper
Starring
Harry Carey
Irene Rich
Barbara La Marr
Cinematography
Robert De Grasse
Harry M. Fowler
Distributed by
Universal Film Manufacturing Company
Release date
July 9, 1921
Running time
50 minutes
Country
United States
Language
Silent (English intertitles)
Desperate Trails is a 1921 American western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be lost.[1]
Plot
As described in a film publication,[2] Bart Carson (Carey) is in love with Lou (La Marr) and even goes to jail to save Walter A. Walker (Coxen), a man she says is her brother but who is really a husband who has deserted his wife and two children. After he learns the truth, Bart breaks out of jail and trails Walter, who falls off a train trying to escape. Bart then seeks refuge in a cabin with Mrs. Walker (Rich), where he is captured, but the officials have learned the truth and promise him a pardon.
Cast
· Harry Carey as Bart Carson
· Irene Rich as Mrs. Walker
· George E. Stone as Dannie Boy
· Helen Field as Carrie
· Edward Coxen as Walter A. Walker]
· Barbara La Marr as Lady Lou]
· George Siegmann as Sheriff Price]
· Charles Inslee as Doc Higgins
Production and Release
Courtney Ryley Cooper wrote the story Christmas Eve at Pilot Butte which was later purchased by the Universal Film Manufacturing Company. The screenplay was written by Elliott J. Clawson and directed by John Ford.[4][5]
Filming of Desperate Trails started on March 14, 1921, under the working title of Christmas Eve at Pilot Butte, and lasted until April 11, with Harry C. Fowler and Robert De Grasse serving as the photographers. The movie was released on July 9.[5]
References
1. "Progressive Silent Film List: Desperate Trails". Silent Era.
2. "Desperate Trails: Carey Has a Good Story With His Most Recent Universal". Film Daily. New York City: Wyd's Films and Film Folks, Inc. 16 (86): 15. June 26, 1921.
3. "Desperate Trails Cast". Daily News. June 25, 1921. p. 14.
4. "Beautiful Women in Cast with Carey in New Western Picture". Calgary Herald. September 17, 1921. p. 12.
5. Bogdanovich, Peter (1967). John Ford. University of California Press. p. 118 – via Google Books.
Action (1921)
Directed by
John Ford
Written by
J. Allan Dunn
Harvey Gates
Peter B. Kyne
Starring
Hoot Gibson
Cinematography
John W. Brown
Distributed by
Universal Film Manufacturing Company
Release date
September 12, 1921
Running time
50 minutes
Country
United States
Language
Silent (English intertitles)
Action is a 1921 American Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Hoot Gibson. It was based on Peter B. Kyne's popular novel The Three Godfathers. The film is considered to be lost.[1] According to contemporaneous newspaper reports, Action was based on J. Allan Dunn's novel, The Mascotte of the Three Star; Mascotte appeared as the lead novel in the pulp magazine Short Stories, February 1921.[2]
Cast
· Hoot Gibson as Sandy Brouke
· Francis Ford as Soda Water Manning
· J. Farrell MacDonald as Mormon Peters
· Buck Connors as Pat Casey
· Clara Horton as Molly Casey
· William Robert Daly as J. Plimsoll
· Dorothea Wolbert as Mirandy Meekin
· Byron Munson as Henry Meekin
· Charles Newton as Sheriff Dipple
· Jim Corey as Sam Waters
References
1. "Progressive Silent Film List: Action". silentera.com.
2. See, for example, the San Francisco Chronicle, September 4, 1921. This reference also contradicts the presumed release date of September 12, since it advertises the film as opening on September 4.
Sure Fire (1921)
Directed by
John Ford
Written by
George C. Hull
Eugene Manlove Rhodes
Starring
Hoot Gibson
Cinematography
Virgil Miller
Distributed by
Universal Film Manufacturing Company
Release date
November 5, 1921
Running time
50 minutes
Country
United States
Language
Silent (English intertitles)
Sure Fire is a 1921 American Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Hoot Gibson. It is considered to be a lost film.[1]
Plot
As described in a film magazine,[2] easy going rancher Jeff Bransford (Gibson) returns to his ancestral acres and finds them heavily mortgaged and about to be foreclosed and the hired men defended them with guns. He tries to borrow money to satisfy the mortgage but is unsuccessful. That night a robbery is committed on a neighboring farm with five thousand dollars stolen from Major Parker (MacQuarrie), and suspicion is thrown upon Jeff. After much hard riding and several stiff fights, the real culprits are apprehended, and Jeff is vindicated. Parker had intended to loan Jeff some money to help with his difficulties. In return, Jeff saves the married Elinor Parker (Brunette) from running away with a worthless scamp and causing a scandal.
Cast
· Hoot Gibson as Jeff Bransford
· Molly Malone as Marian Hoffman
· B. Reeves Eason Jr. as Sonny (credited as Breezy Eason Jr.)
· Harry Carter as Rufus Coulter
· Fritzi Brunette as Elinor Parker
· Murdock MacQuarrie as Major Parker
· George Fisher as Burt Rawlings
· Charles Newton as Leo Ballinger
· Jack Woods as Brazos Bart
· Jack Walters as Overland Kid
· Joe Harris as Romero
· Steve Clemente as Gomez (credited as Steve Clements)
· Mary Philbin
References
1. "Progressive Silent Film List: Sure Fire".
2. "Reviews: Sure Fire". Exhibitors Herald. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. 13 (17): 70. October 22, 1921.
Jackie (1921)
Directed by
John Ford
Produced by
William Fox
Written by
Helena Buczynska
Dorothy Yost
Starring
Shirley Mason
William Scott
Cinematography
George Schneiderman
Distributed by
Fox Film Corporation
Release date
November 27, 1921
Running time
50 minutes
Country
United States
Language
Silent (English intertitles)
Jackie is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by John Ford.[1] The film is considered to be lost.[2][3]
Plot
As described in a film magazine,[4] Jacqueline (Mason), an orphaned daughter of a famous Russian dancer, has been raised by a French woman who runs a cheap dancing school. Called Jackie for short, her foster mother contracts her to a rough, uncouth showman, Bill Bowman (Carter), who ill-treats her. When Bill tries to force his way into her room, he is struck down by Benny (Stone), a cripple. Jackie and Benny go back to London where they accidentally run into Mervyn Carter (Scott), who had previously befriended Jackie. Mervyn arranges for Benny to be sent to a hospital and Jackie to a noted dancing master. She obtains a role in a London show and becomes engaged to Mervyn. Bill shows up and demands that Jackie return with him until her contract is fulfilled. She buys herself out of the contract by paying Bill 500 pounds, and eventually marries Mervyn.
Cast
· Shirley Mason as Jackie
· William Scott as Mervyn Carter
· Harry Carter as Bill Bowman
· Georgie Stone as Benny
· John Cook as Winter
· Elsie Bambrick as Millie
References
1. The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: Jackie
2. "Progressive Silent Film List: Jackie". silentera.com.
3. The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Jackie
Little Miss Smiles (1922)
Directed by
John Ford
Produced by
William Fox
Written by
John Stone
Dorothy Yost
Based on
Little Aliens by Myra Kelly
Starring
Shirley Mason
Gaston Glass
Cinematography
David Abel
Distributed by
Fox Film Corporation
Release date
January 15, 1922
Running time
50 minutes
Country
United States
Language
Silent (English intertitles)
Little Miss Smiles is a 1922 American drama film directed by John Ford. The film is considered to be lost.[1][2]
Plot
As described in a film magazine,[3] The Jewish Aaronson family consists of Papa (Williams), Mama (Franklin), David (Rankin), Louis (Testa), Leon (Lapan), Esther (Mason), and the Baby (Blumfield). They live in humble quarters in the ghetto of a large city. Esther spreads sunshine with her smiles and, when Mama is stricken blind and taken to the hospital, she assumes the duties as head of the family. Doctor Jack Washton (Glass) at the hospital takes an interest in Esther and saves her from The Spider (D'Albrook) when he invades the Aaronson flat. On the day Mama is brought home, David is arrested for shooting The Spider. The doctor, in order to shield Esther's mother from the pain of seeing her boy arrested, assumes the blame for the shooting. The Spider, however, recovers and absolves David from all blame.
Cast
· Shirley Mason as Esther Aaronson
· Gaston Glass as Dr. Jack Washton
· George B. Williams as Papa Aaronson (credited as George Williams)
· Martha Franklin as Mama Aaronson
· Arthur Rankin as Davie Aaronson
· Alfred Testa as Louis Aaronson
· Richard Lapan as Leon Aaronson
· Sidney D'Albrook as 'The Spider'
· Baby Blumfield as Baby Aaronson
References
1. "Little Miss Smiles". American Silent Feature Film Survival Database.
2. "Reviews: Little Miss Smiles". Exhibitors Herald. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. 14 (6): 59–60. February 4, 1922.
Silver Wings (1922)
Directed by
Edwin Carewe
John Ford
Produced by
William Fox
Written by
Paul Sloane
Starring
Mary Carr
Lynn Hammond
Cinematography
Robert Kurrle
Joseph Ruttenberg
Distributed by
Fox Film Corporation
Release date
May 22, 1922
Running time
90 minutes
Country
United States
Language
Silent (English intertitles)
Silver Wings is a 1922 American drama film directed by Edwin Carewe and John Ford. Ford directed only the prologue of the film. Silver Wings is now considered to be a lost film.[1][2]
Plot
As described in a film magazine,[3] Uncle Andrew (Brooke) lives with Anna (Carr) and John Webb (Hammond), and rejoices when the Webbs get an offer of $10,000 for his invention, but Mother Webb advises building their own factory and taking a chance on the invention. Her advice proves wise, and by the time the children are grown, the family is on its way to prosperity. Harry (Striker), the elder son and mother's favorite, gives her the affection she craves, but she cannot see his shallowness, deceit, and general unworthiness. John (Helton), both as a child and when grown, suffers for his brothers sins, at last taking the blame for his brother's thefts from the factory. Harry drives his sister Ruth (Thomas) from home because he does not want her to marry a working man, this after their father has died on Christmas Day while all the family was together, his wife telling him of the happiness he has given her. Mrs. Webb takes over the management of the Webb shop, and has the help of John and Uncle Andrew, but Harry is lazy, extravagant, and generally caddish. Ruth and John are both driven away by Harry, but the mother carries on until she discovers that Harry has forged her name and taken or lost everything of value. Anna breaks down and sells what is left, and after Harry runs off, she becomes a wandering derelict. After she is struck by an automobile, John and Ruth come to her, bringing Ruth's child. Finally a reformed Harry returns, for a happy ending with the mother's arms around her children at the fade out.
Cast
· Mary Carr as Anna Webb (prologue / play)
· Lynn Hammond as John Webb (prologue)
· Knox Kincaid as John (prologue)
· Joseph Monahan as Harry (prologue)
· Maybeth Carr as Ruth (prologue)
· Claude Brooke as Uncle Andrew (prologue / play)
· Robert Hazelton as The Minister (prologue)
· Florence Short as Widow Martin (prologue)
· May Kaiser as Her Child
· Percy Helton as John (play)
· Joseph Striker as Harry (play)
· Jane Thomas as Ruth (play)
· Roy Gordon as George Mills (play)
· Florence Haas as Little Anna (play)
· L. Rogers Lytton as Bank President (play) (as Roger Lytton)
· Ernest Hilliard as Jerry Gibbs (play)
References
1. "Progressive Silent Film List: Silver Wings". Silent Era.
2. "Silver Wings". American Silent Feature Film Survival Database. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
3. "Reviews: Silver Wings". Exhibitors Herald. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. 14 (24): 52. June 10, 1922.
The Village Blacksmith (1922)
Directed by
John Ford
Produced by
William Fox
Written by
Paul Sloane[1]
Based on
"The Village Blacksmith" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Starring
Will Walling
Virginia True Boardman
Cinematography
George Schneiderman[2]
Production company
Fox Film Corporation
Distributed by
Fox Film Corporation
Release date
November 2, 1922 (New York)[3]
Running time
8 reels[4] (approx. 80 mins)
Country
United States
Language
Silent (English intertitles)
The Village Blacksmith is a 1922 American silent melodrama[5][6] film directed by John Ford and produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation. One of the eight reels survives at the UCLA Film and Television Archive, and therefore the film is considered to be lost.[7][8] It was loosely adapted from the poem of the same name by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.[3]
Plot
As young men, the squire (Marshall) and the village blacksmith (Walling) are in love with the same woman (Boardman), whom the blacksmith marries. This angers the squire. Years later, the squire's son Anson (Yearsley) dares the blacksmith's son Johnnie (Hackathorne) to climb a tree, from which he falls and is crippled.
As adults, Anson and the blacksmith's daughter Alice (Valli) fall in love, which angers the blacksmith, who chastises his daughter. The blacksmith's other son Bill (Butler) returns from college and is injured in a train accident. Anson steals $480 from a church fund which is currently in Alice's possession. Alice is struck by lightning. The blacksmith take Anson and the squire to church where they both repent.[5][9][10]
Cast
· William Walling as John Hammond, Blacksmith
· Virginia True Boardman as Mrs. John Hammond
· Virginia Valli as Alice Hammond, the Daughter
· Ida Mae McKenzie as Alice as a Child
· David Butler as Bill Hammond, the Son
· Gordon Griffith as Bill as a Child
· George Hackathorne as Johnnie Hammond, Another Son
· Pat Moore as Johnnie as a Child
· Tully Marshall as Ezra Brigham, the Squire
· Ralph Yearsley as Anson Brigham, the Son
· Henri De La Garrique as Anson as a Child
· Francis Ford as Asa Martin
· Bessie Love as Rosemary Martin, the Daughter
· Helen Field as Rosemary as a Child
· Lon Poff as Gideon Crane
· Mark Fenton as Dr. Brewster
· Cordelia Callahan as Aunt Hattie
· Caroline Rankin as Squire's Wife
· Eddie Gribbon as The Village Gossip
· Lucille Hutton as The Flapper from the City[9][10]
Reception
The film was well-received by audiences[11] and by reviewers alike.[4][12][13] The photography was highly praised.[6][14]
References
Citations
1. Davis 1997, p. 346
2. Love, Bessie (1977). From Hollywood with Love: An Autobiography of Bessie Love. London: Elm Tree Books. p. 151. .
3. "'Village Blacksmith' Premiere Nov 2". The Film Daily. 22 (24): 2. October 25, 1922.
4. "What the Picture Did for Me". Exhibitors Herald. 17 (18): 65. October 27, 1923.
5. "'The Village Blacksmith'—A Picture of Sobs and Suffering". The Film Daily. 22 (42): 5. November 12, 1922.
6. "'Village Blacksmith' Has Prominent Cast". Moving Picture World. 59 (5): 420. December 2, 1922.
7. Bennett, Carl (May 28, 2016). "Progressive Silent Film List: The Village Blacksmith". Silent Era. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
8. "The Village Blacksmith". American Silent Feature Film Survival Database. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
9. Reid, Laurence (November 18, 1922). "Reviews of the Latest Features". Motion Picture News: 2549.
10. Sewell, Charles S. (November 18, 1922). "Newest Reviews and Comments". Moving Picture World. 59 (3): 267–8.
11. Davis 1997, p. 48
12. Van Buren Powell, A. (February 23, 1924). "Straight from the Shoulder Reports". Moving Picture World. 66 (8): 663.
13. "Consensus of Published Reviews". Moving Picture World. 59 (6): 570. December 9, 1922.
14. Van Buren Powell, A. (February 9, 1924). "Straight from the Shoulder Reports". Moving Picture World. 66 (6): 493.
Works cited
· Davis, Ronald L. (1997). John Ford: Hollywood's Old Master. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma.