William Humphreys Movies
American actor/director William Humphreys spent the bulk of his career with the Vitagraph company. Getting his start on stage, Humphreys specialized in playing Napoleon, a role he brought from Broadway to film in the one-reeler Man of Destiny (1909) and then in Napoleon Bonaparte and Empress Josephine of France (also 1909). At first he billed himself as William Humphreys, but later dropped the "s" in his surname. He remained with Vitagraph as a director and actor through the early sound years. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1927
From all existing evidence, Temptations of a Shop Girl wasn't any better than its title. Heroine Betty Compson is saddled with a kleptomaniac kid sister (Pauline Garon), who pilfers expensive dresses at the behest of her low-life boyfriend. When the sister is arrested on suspicion, Compson nobly takes the blame and suffers magnificently as a result. She then sets about to destroy the man who led her younger sibling astray. The author of Temptations of a Shop Girl was not credited on screen, which may have been a defense mechanism on his part. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Betty Compson, Pauline Garon, (more)
- 1927
The fast-paced FBO programmer Aflame in the Sky rather resembles a Tom Mix production -- with Jack Luden standing in for the flamboyant Mix. This modern-day western concerns a handsome hero, a lovely senorita, a stiff-necked military man, and an unspeakable villain. The hero's love of flying comes in handy when he takes to the air and skywrites a plea for HELP in the final reel. Luden's love interest in Aflame in the Sky is musical comedy star Sharon Lynn, best known as the scheming saloon-hall thrush in Laurel and Hardy's Way Out West (1937); the villain is old Douglas Fairbanks-cohort Robert McKim, here making his final appearance before his death of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 39, June 4, 1927. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Neal Hart, Jack Luden, (more)
- 1925
Although Lon Chaney and director Tod Browning had made a couple of films together earlier in their careers, this unique melodrama marked the beginning of a string of chilling, macabre silent films, which included West of Zanzibar, The Unknown, and The Black Bird. Chaney is Echo, a sideshow ventriloquist. He cooks up a scam with two other members of the sideshow -- Hercules, the strong man (Victor McLaglen), and Tweedledee, a midget (Harry Earles). The three of them open up a bird store full of parrots that have impressive vocabularies -- but only when Echo, dressed as proprietress Granny O'Grady, is around. When the buyer takes the bird home and it won't talk, Granny comes around with a baby (Tweedledee in swaddling clothes). While "Granny" (using his powers of ventriloquism) coaxes the parrot into speaking, the midget cases the joint to see if there's anything worth robbing later. Trouble comes when they hire Hector, a simple soul (Matt Moore), as a clerk. Echo's pickpocket sweetheart, Rosie (Mae Busch) falls in love with him. Meanwhile, Hercules and Tweedledee murder a man while they're in the midst of one of their robberies. Hector is arrested for the crime while the others flee. To save Hector, Rosie finally agrees to give him up if Echo saves him. By throwing his voice, Echo makes Hector appear to give testimony which frees him. When Rosie goes to Echo, however, he sends her back to Hector, while he returns to the side show. His two cohorts meet their end when they run afoul of Echo's pet gorilla. This hugely successful film was remade as Chaney's first -- and last -- talkie. Harry Earles (who might also be remembered from his starring role in Freaks) reprises his role as Tweedledee. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lon Chaney, Mae Busch, (more)
- 1925
Mary Carr (the charming old woman from Over the Hill to the Poorhouse) plays Drusilla Doane, a charity case at an old ladies' home. When Elias Arnold (Henry Barrows) gets upset with his son, Collin (Kenneth Harlan), he wills his fortune to Drusilla instead. Upon his death, the old lady finds herself a millionaire and goes to live in his mansion. After a mother deserts her baby on Drusilla's doorstep, she decides to open her home for more abandoned babies and finds her true life's purpose. Meanwhile, Collin is injured in a car accident trying to avoid hitting Sally May Ferris (Priscilla Bonner). Sally, an orphan, nurses him back to health and they marry. Daphne Thornton (Claire Du Brey), wanting to break the will and marry Collin herself, goes to work on Sally. She convinces Sally that she is ruining Collin's life, so she leaves him. While living in poverty, she has Collin's baby and she tries to leave it on Drusilla's doorstep, but she is caught and hauled into jail. She refuses to divulge her husband's name and Daphne manages to keep Collin -- who has been desperately searching for her -- out of the courtroom. Just as the baby is taken away, however, he shows up and the couple are reunited. Drusilla takes the couple in to live with her in the Arnold mansion. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Carr, Priscilla Bonner, (more)
John Barrymore is virtually the entire show as 18th-century British fashion plate Beau Brummel. Thanks to his sartorial splendor and quick wit, Brummel is a favorite of the Prince of Wales (Willard Louis)--and with several ladies, though his heart belongs to the beautiful, unobtainable Lady Margery Avanley (played by 17-year-old Mary Astor, who during filming was carrying on a most passionate affair with her leading man). The arrogant Brummel falls from grace after insulting the Prince and then refusing to apologize. We last see Brummel in an asylum, dressed in rags, but with still enough pride to turn away his true love rather than allow her to throw her life away on him. John Barrymore is superb throughout, especially in the poignant sequences after his descent into poverty and disgrace. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Barrymore, Mary Astor, (more)
