Bryant Washburn Movies

Rex Rowland (Bryant Washburn) is an American who is visiting London with his father (George Foley). When he meets Lady Emily, a distressed but pretty young girl (Joan Morgan), he decides to stay behind and help her. Emily's aunt, the Duchess (Saba Raleigh), is trying to force her into an unwanted marriage with a Count (Gibb McLaughlin). Rex spirits her away in a car he has commandeered. The Duchess and the Count chase Rex and Emily all over London, including a pursuit by "motor canoe" down the Thames. Emily and Rex manage to escape long enough to be married at a small church, but when they get back to the hotel, the Duchess shows up and takes her niece away. Rex, depressed that his efforts have been for naught, wires his father for money to return home. When he boards the ship, he finds Emily waiting for him in his cabin. This lively adventure was shot on location in London. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi

This farce started out as a stage play by Fred Jackson and was then made into a musical comedy (The Velvet Lady) before becoming this rather tiresome motion picture. It's based on the timeworn trick of two men unknowingly picking up each other's suitcases. In this case, one of them is the newly-wed George Howell (Bryant Washburn) and the other is a crook. Howell's bride, Ottilie (Lois Wilson) wonders what kind of guy she married when she opens his bag to find burglar tools and stolen jewelry. The crook, meanwhile, is desperate to get his bag back. To add to the complications, Howell is secretly trying to do a favor for his friend, Ned Penbroke (Guy Milham), and there's a reward for the stolen goods. Thanks to a cop (Z. Wall Covington), who comes to the Howells' home and refuses to let anyone leave, all the dilemmas are solved. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi

This amusing comedy, based on the book by Earl Derr Biggers, is well cast, with Bryant Washburn and Lois Wilson in the lead roles. Allan Harrowby (Frank Elliott), supposedly a Lord, is concerned that something will happen before his wedding to heiress Cynthia Meyrick (Wilson). So he goes to Lloyd's of London and has the ceremony insured. Insurance agent Dick Minot (Washburn) is sent to San Marco, FL, to see that the wedding happens, but on the trip down he meets Cynthia and falls in love with her himself. He does his best to keep the wedding on track anyway, which isn't easy; Jenkins (Fred Huntley), a valet, tries to pass himself off as Allan's older brother and Minot has just gotten rid of him when Allan's real older brother, and real heir to the title (Clarence Geldart), shows up. Cynthia's father (Theodore Roberts) is about to call the wedding off since Allan isn't really a Lord, but then Allan's brother offers to give up the title in favor of his younger brother. In spite of everyone's efforts, things nevertheless grind to a halt when Cynthia gets her hands on a copy of the insurance policy. Infuriated that she is part of a business transaction, she calls the wedding off. She's also mad at Minot for his part in it. But then Minot and Cynthia run into each other again on the train out of San Marco, and once more romance blooms. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi

Smith (Bryant Washburn) is a confirmed bachelor, but he defects to marry Marian (the always delightful Lois Wilson). Unfortunately, it takes several days for him to even get a chance to kiss his new bride. Everything fate can drum up interferes -- a train wreck, a hotel fire, an annoyingly amorous maid, and even an earthquake all come between husband and wife. Finally Smith has to disguise himself as a bandit and steal Marian away so that they can be alone together. This film was adapted from an old farce by George Broadhurst. Coincidentally, another farce with a similar plot was released about the same time as this one -- Please Get Married, starring Viola Dana. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi

Salesman Bryant Washburn has some pretty peculiar ideas about love and marriage. Even after wedding winsome Mildred Davis, Washburn insists upon living separately and seeing Davis only on "dates". Inevitably, this leads to jealousy and misunderstanding. Equally inevitably, Washburn and his wife settle down to a normal relationship. All Wrong was one of the few films made by Mildred Davis before she became the leading lady-onscreen as well as off-of comedian Harold Lloyd. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The plot of Twenty-One is predicated on the fact that socialite Jimmy Mufferton (Bryant Washburn) is the exact double of prizefighter "Battling" Dave Carey (also Bryant Washburn). Upon attaining his 21st birthday, Jimmy comes into his family's vast fortune. Having always wanted to escape his hothouse existence, Jimmy uses a generous portion of his money to convince Carey to switch places with him. Carey eagerly accepts, having always aspired to big houses and fancy clothing. As for Jimmy, he not only realizes his life's dream of being a "regular guy," but he also straightens out the various messes within Carey's dysfunctional family. But Jimmy isn't quite prepared to take Carey's place in the boxing ring! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This timely emotional drama starred Bryant Washburn as Benton Clune, who when America enters WWI wants to march alongside his brothers in the National Guard. But Benton's mother refuses to let him go, whereupon Benton is branded a coward. Outwardly upset, Benton is secretly pleased, since he really does possess a yellow streak. But our hero ultimately proves his innate courage by volunteering for a "suicide mission" along the Mexican border (there was a popular belief at the time that the Mexican civil war was fomented by the German Kaiser!) The contrived battle sequences in The Man Who Was Afraid paled in comparison to the wartime newsreel footage that was then cascading into American movie houses. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Mildred Niles (Clara Kimball Young) is the daughter of a wealthy broker (E.M. Kimball); Ted Vandeveer (Chester Barnett) is a penniless relative of the wealthy Archie Vandeveers. The two meet and fall in love. Ted's friend, Jim Sweeney (William Jefferson), thinks he should take advantage of the girl's wealth. But Mildred's father has been enmeshed in a bad stock deal which has broken him and her mother (Ina Brooks) wants her to marry the supposedly-rich Vandeveer before this is discovered. So the two overcome any pangs of conscience and wed, but afterwards they confess to each other that they are broke. It turns out, however, they aren't after all, because Ted's uncle has left him a million dollars -- providing that he marry. Clara Kimball Young was primarily a dramatic -- or as they said in those days "emotional" -- actress, and this was one of her rare comic turns. It was based on a play by Bertram Marburgh and W. Pezet. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi

Throughout the silent era (and into the sound era, for that matter), the mythical kingdom (or imitations thereof) of author George Barr McCutcheon formed the basis for innumerable motion pictures. This film wasn't the first and it was far from the last. Prince Robin of Graustark (Bryant Washburn) is being ordered to marry the Princess of Dawsbergen (Marguerite Clayton). But he does not want to wed a girl he has never met, so when he sails to America to negotiate a loan for his country, he scouts around for an appropriate female. While doing business with millionaire banker William Blithers (Ernest Maupain), he believes he has found her. He thinks the girl is Blithers' daughter, but when he returns to Graustark, he discovers that the girl he loves is none other than the Princess he was supposed to marry all along. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi

The acting team of Francis X. Bushman and Beverly Bayne (who also became a romantic team in real life) was still new when this three-reeler was produced. Rough and tumble Alaskan John Landon (Bushman) is the president of the valuable Nugget Gold Mine Corporation. When he goes to the city, Nicholas Channing (Frank Dayton) sees him as a way to make back his lost fortune. Landon has fallen in love with Channing's daughter, Loyal (Bayne), and for her father's sake, the girl marries him. As a wedding gift, Landon gives Loyal shares in his company, which she hands over to her father. Channing and his son Arthur (Bryant Washburn) sell these shares on the street in a wildcat scheme. When the worth of Landon's company goes into a slump, he discovers that Channing is the cause and confronts him. The exposure causes Channing to have a stroke and he dies. Loyal blames Landon for her father's death and the couple separate. Landon returns to Alaska, alone, and Loyal discovers that she loves him after all. When Arthur explains that their father was really the one at fault, she travels to Alaska where she and Landon are reconciled. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi

The Alster Case was based on a novel by Rufus Gilmore. Set in Chicago (the home of Essanay studios), the film deals with a murder mystery, the solution of which will bode either good or ill for hero George Swan (Bryant Washburn) and heroine Beatrice (Ruth Stonehouse). Since the victim, Miss Cornelia Alster (Louise Croilus), was not universally beloved, there is no shortage of suspects. Detective Trask (John H. Crossar) dedicates himself to finding the truth as quickly as possible. Were it not for the "star" power of Washburn and Stonehouse, no one would have gone to see The Alster Case except the critics who were paid to do so. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi