Joseph Urban Movies
- 1931
The popular screen romantic team of Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell shocked and surprised their fans in the ultra-melodramatic The Man Who Came Back. Based on a 1916 stage success, the film atypically casts Gaynor as Angie, a San Francisco nightclub chanteuse who degenerates into drug addiction. In a parallel development, drunken playboy Steve Randolph (Farrell, in another bit of offbeat casting) destroys his reputation by writing bad checks. Only when Angie and Steve have both reached the dregs in a Shanghai opium den do they find each other and fall in love. It's a hard, uphill climb, but hero and heroine manage to clean themselves up in time for a happy ending. The scenes in which Janet Gaynor is established as a "doper" are quite raw for their time, especially when one considers the actress's normally virginal screen image. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell, (more)
- 1931
Whenever a vaudeville comic of the 1920s wanted to get a quick laugh, he'd announce to his audience "Next Week: East Lynne." To many playgoers, this hoary stage adaptation of Mrs. Henry Wood's 1861 novel represented the height of Victorian nonesuch. Still, there were several silent film versions of East Lynne, all of which made money. 1931 yielded no fewer than two adaptations, one set in modern times and retitled Ex-Flame. Fox Studios' version restored the original title and the 1860s setting, but couldn't do much with that creaky plot. Ann Harding portrays Lady Isabel Carlisle, who nearly a decade of family hardships learns that her son has fallen ill. Despite being nearly blind as the result of a bomb explosion, Lady Carlisle returns home to see her son one last time--just before dying herself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ann Harding, Clive Brook, (more)
- 1925
Although this isn't a top-notch Marion Davies film, she's still very charming in it. Mamie Smith (Davies in pigtails and behaving in a near-parody of Mary Pickford) is a lively orphan whose antics are not appreciated by the orphanage's cruel matron (Emily Fitzroy). Mr. Pepper, a kindly trustee (Richard Carle), places her with Mrs. Caldwell (Hedda Hopper), who needs someone to help her care for her little boy, Alexander (John Huff). Mamie immediately calls him Zander. Mrs. Caldwell has been deserted by her husband and when she dies, Mamie sets out with Zander in a dilapidated old car to find him. Their trek takes them to Arizona where she winds up naively living with a group of bootleggers headed by Dan Murchison (Harrison Ford), who claims to be Zander's father. When she finally discovers the trade of her new friends she threatens to tell the sheriff (Hobart Bosworth), so Murchison locks her up and sends Zander to his friend, Juan Fernandez (Holbrook Blinn). Mamie escapes and is kidnapped by Black Bart (George Siegmann) and his gang of outlaws. She escapes from them, too, and heads for Fernandez's place, followed by the outlaws. Murchison teams up with the sheriff to capture the desperadoes and discover that Fernandez has killed Black Bart. Murchison admits he is not Zander's father, but that he knows the man has died. Because he has fallen in love with Mamie, Murchison vows to go straight and make a home for her and the little boy. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marion Davies, Holbrook Blinn, (more)
- 1925
The title to this picture came from a Rudyard Kipling poem, and accurately reflected the attitude of Victorian and post-Victorian white people toward cultures different from their own -- they didn't understand them, and there's an underlying sense of superiority. Obviously, that attitude was still very much alive in 1925 (and, truthfully, carried on in one subtle form or another throughout the rest of the 20th century). This South Seas tale, however, had little to do with Kipling -- it was actually based on a story written by a less classic author by the name of Peter B. Kyne. Tamea (Anita Stewart) is the daughter of Gaston Larrieau, a French sea captain (Lionel Belmore), and the queen of a small South Sea island. Father and daughter travel to San Francisco, but he discovers he has leprosy and commits suicide. Tamea is left in the care of Larrieau's young employer, Dan Pritchard (Bert Lytell). Since she is not accustomed to civilized ways, her behavior becomes a problem and Pritchard's ex-fiancée Maisie (Justine Johnstone) and friend Mark Mellenger (Huntley Gordon) both help straighten her out. Tamea returns to her island and Pritchard, who has fallen in love with her, follows. They marry in a native ceremony, but soon Pritchard finds he is bored by island life. Tamea writes to Maisie, admitting that she and her new husband are from two different worlds. Maisie and Mellenger show up on the island, and Pritchard is more than happy to dump his native wife and return to the U.S. with his former flame. Mellenger, however, stays behind and proves to be a better mate to Tamea. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anita Stewart, Bert Lytell, (more)
- 1924
The talented and beautiful Marion Davies is practically lost under the opulence of this expensive, overdone historical romance. Her producer (and lover), newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, was attempting to recreate the success of one of Davies' prior epic vehicles, When Knighthood Was in Flower. Once again he based the picture on a novel by Charles Major and brought in set designer Joseph Urban to work his magic. But this Major story wasn't as good as Knighthood and Urban did his work too well; the sets are both gorgeous and overwhelming. Ultimately, the production cost too much for Hearst to make a profit, even though the film performed well at the box office. The backdrop is fifteenth century France, and Charles, Duke of Burgundy (Lyn Harding) has promised his daughter, Princess Mary (Davies), that she can marry the man she loves, Prince Maximilian of Styria (Ralph Graves). But when the Swiss threaten war, the duke is compelled to take back his word and he arranges for Mary to wed the half-witted dauphin (Johnny Dooley) of France's King Louis XI (Holbrook Blinn). Mary, however, runs away and disguises herself as Yolanda, a commoner. At a silk fair she meets and falls in love with a strange knight, only to discover that it's Maximilian in disguise. Although she is found and turned over to be married to the dauphin, Maximilian rescues her. When the Duke of Burgundy is killed, Mary shows up with Maximilian by her side to rule over her people. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marion Davies, Lyn Harding, (more)
- 1924
Newspaper magnate and movie producer William Randolph Hearst created this massive epic about the American Revolution to showcase the talents of his mistress Marion Davies. The results were far better than anyone could have imagined, given these circumstances; both film content and Marion were artistic successes. The story literally covers the whole Revolution and has Davies' character, Janice Meredith, playing a key part -- in Hearst's world, Marion/Janice is the one ultimately responsible for sending Paul Revere on his famous ride! However, America's fight for freedom (including the Boston tea party, Valley Forge, etc.) shares space with the picture's love story: Janice, who comes from a family of wealthy Tory sympathizers is in love with a servant named Charles Fownes (Harrison Ford). Fownes, of course, is a rebel and joins George Washington's (Joseph Kilgour) staff. Their love survives through many political and war intrigues until the day Fownes insists that Janice cut ties with all British associates, including her father (Maclyn Arbuckle). She refuses and goes home to marry Philemon Hennion (Olin Howland), but Fownes leads a rebel raid that thwarts the wedding. The Meredith lands are taken by the rebels and Hennion is arrested for his work with the British. Finally, as the Revolution nears its triumphant end, Janice and Fownes wind up together. W.C. Fields, as a British sergeant, provides a small bit of comic relief from all this drama. While Janice Meredith received honestly enthusiastic reviews (not just from the Hearst papers), its negative cost of nearly a million dollars -- a fortune in those days -- prohibited it from making a profit. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marion Davies, Harrison Ford, (more)
- 1923
An epic, 13-reel costume drama produced by William Randolph Hearst's Cosmopolitan productions -- and it doesn't star his mistress, Marion Davies! Based on the novel by Stanley Weyman, this film was said to be the first to cost 1.5 million dollars to produce (a real fortune in those days). It starred newcomer John Charles Thomas, whose claim to fame was as a singer, not an actor. Luckily he had a number of seasoned players to back him up. Cardinal Richelieu (Robert B. Mantell) has just become Prime Minister under King Louis XIII of France (Ian MacLaren). Gil de Berault (Thomas) has gotten involved in a duel against Richelieu's orders, but the Prime Minister offers to save his life if he captures de Cocheforet (Otto Krueger), who is plotting against the king. Gil succeeds in his mission, but he falls in love with de Cocheforet's sister, Renee (Alma Reubens), so he lets him go and returns empty-handed. In the meantime Richelieu has been dismissed because of the machinations of the Duke of Orleans (William Powell, who often played villains in his early film days). Gil is able to prove that the duke is a traitor and Richelieu is restored to power. For Gil's service to the crown, he is given his freedom and allowed to marry Renee. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1923
Marion Davies, who'd coincidentally later star in Cain and Mabel, is top-billed in Adam and Eva. Adam Smith (T. Roy Barnes) is appointed head of the business owned by Eva's (Marion Davies) wealthy father. It is hoped that the personable Adam will be able to curb Eva's impulsiveness and tendency to spend money faster than her dad can earn it. Adam hits upon the strategy of telling Eva that her father has gone broke. It is at this point that the girl proves she's a good egg after all by going to work to support her "destitute" dad. Adam and Eva had all the ingredients for success, but it was sabotaged by the publicity overkill generated by Marion Davies' "sponsor", publisher William Randolph Hearst. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marion Davies, T. Roy Barnes, (more)
- 1923
This charming and expensively made historical romance was one of Marion Davies' best films. She spends much of the picture disguised as a boy, something she also did effectively in several other films. A young Irish lad, Patrick O'Day (Stephen Carr), inherits a fortune, providing he travels to New York to claim it within a certain period of time. His father, John (J.M. Kerrigan), manages to scrape together the money to send himself, his son, and daughter, Patricia (Davies), across the Atlantic. But the boy is sick and dies en route to New York. In order to get the money, John convinces Patricia to disguise herself as her brother. They arrive just in time to claim the inheritance, which frustrates cousin Larry Delevan (Harrison Ford), who would have received it had Pat not shown up. Although Delevan is not thrilled with his cousin's arrival, they become fast friends anyhow, and he never suspects that Pat is really a girl. Delevan wants to invest in Robert Fulton's steamship, the Clermont, and Pat loans him the money. But Delevan then wagers on a fight between Bully Boy Brewster (Harry Watson) and the Hoboken Terror (Louis Wolheim). The match is an uneven one and it looks like Delevan will lose all his money, so Pat rings a false alarm to break up the fight. When her deed is discovered, the mob drags her out to be whipped. She takes it for a few lashes before revealing that she's really a girl. Delevan falls in love with her and they marry. Contrary to popular belief, many of Marion Davies' films made money, and Little Old New York was one of them. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marion Davies
- 1923
This epic production was the last film that producer and newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst produced for Paramount (after that, his production company, Cosmopolitan, went over to Goldwyn, which later merged with MGM). It was based on a novel by Vicenti Blasco Ibanez, who also wrote The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. In addition to lavish sets by Joseph Urban, the cast and crew also filmed on-location in Paris and Monte Carlo. Russian Prince Lubimoff (Lionel Barrymore) thinks only of his wealth and his own gratification. After fighting a duel, he has to flee from the ire of the Czar, and Duchess Alicia (Alma Rubens) helps him to get out of the country. While he is staying at his villa in Monte Carlo, World War I breaks out, but neither he nor his associates even consider going to fight. Lubimoff, who won't even acknowledge that he is in love with Alicia, is incensed when he finds her embracing a young man. Without realizing that it is her 16-year-old son, Lubimoff and his friends form a group called "Enemies of Women." Because of the war, the feudal estates are lost, and Alicia's son dies just before he is about to enter into a duel. Lubimoff, who has finally realized that the world does not revolve around him, goes to fight and uses the money he has left to help the downtrodden. On the front lines, he meets Alicia, who has become a Red Cross nurse, and they are united. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lionel Barrymore, Alma Rubens, (more)
- 1922
Film critics (at least those who weren't employed by the Hearst Corporation) frequently complained about the amount of money newspaper magnate and motion picture producer William Randolph Hearst spent on the pictures starring his companion Marion Davies. When it came to this historical adventure, they certainly had fodder to lambaste the film; it cost 1.5 million dollars, a real fortune in 1922 cash. But in spite of the over-inflated budget, critics had to admit that even at a lengthy 12 reels, this was solid entertainment -- and Davies was good in it. The picture was based on the novel by Charles Major, and what it lacked in historical accuracy it certainly made up for in the sumptuous Joseph Urban sets. Mary Tudor (Davies), the younger sister of King Henry VIII (Lyn Harding), falls in love with commoner Charles Brandon (Forrest Stanley). There are other plans for Mary, however; she is supposed to make a politically strategic marriage to the elderly King Louis XII of France (William Norris). Brandon is framed for murder, but Mary, disguised as a boy, helps him to escape. Henry tracks down his sister and her lover at a Bristol Inn, and Mary agrees to wed the French king if Brandon's life is spared. After Brandon is exiled, Mary goes ahead with the wedding, but King Louis, in his attempt to prove he is lively enough for such a pretty young bride, drops dead. His nephew and heir to the throne, Francis (William Powell, in his first really important film role), wants to wed Mary, but Brandon comes to the rescue. When Henry discovers that his sister and Brandon have married, he remarks, "I should have consented in the first place, and saved us all this trouble." The Hearst machine used the film's great expense as a promotional device, and this won the criticism of one newspaper writer, who felt that Davies' talent stood on her own. Instead of being incensed, Hearst was pleased that Davies was so passionately supported, and he hired the reporter, Louella Parsons. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lyn Harding, William Norris, (more)
- 1922
Although William Randolph Hearst had been financing the motion pictures for his mistress Marion Davies for several years, most of them had moderate budgets -- until around the time this picture was made. According to Davies' biographer, Fred Guiles, she was so overwhelmed by its lush settings and costumes that she found it hard to tackle her role which, in any case, would have been demanding. Mr. May (Maclyn Arbuckle) wants his daughter Diana (Davies) to marry into society. The man he wishes her to wed is a scientist, Dr. Dimitrius (Pedro de Cordoba), but Diana is in love with an officer, Commander Cleeve (Forrest Stanley). At a party the night before she and Cleeve are to marry, she sees him leaving the house with Lady Anna (Gypsy O'Brien). Diana faints and the rest of the picture is her dream: Twenty years have passed and she is a dried up old spinster. She travels to Switzerland where Dr. Dimitrius is working on experiments. He is able to restore Diana's youth and beauty. Nevertheless, this does not bring back her happiness, as she discovers when she runs into her lover from years past. When she wakes up, Cleeve has a perfectly good reason for leaving the house, and the couple go ahead with their wedding. In spite of her shaky performance here, Davies -- to this day still a woefully underappreciated comedian -- adapted to Hearst's higher budgets, as proved the next year with the release of Little Old New York.
~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marion Davies, Maclyn Arbuckle, (more)
- 1922
Although it wasn't acknowledged publicly for decades, newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst and actress Marion Davies were quite an item during the silent era -- and beyond. He produced all her pictures, except for her first one, and generally they were mild affairs which did little but show off her remarkable beauty. This was unfortunate because she was also a talented comic who was capable of much more than these films offered. Hearst hadn't yet begun spending the real big bucks to put Davies in elaborate costume dramas (the first, When Knighthood Was in Flower, would be released later in 1922), and this romantic comedy-drama is pretty typical Davies fare. Even though Prudence Cole (Davies) is a modest little Quaker miss, her prim outfits do not hide her ravishing beauty. Artist Cheyne Rovein recognizes her as a looker right away and offers to design some outfits that will do her justice. Since Prudence is in love with Henry Garrison (Halam Cooley) and he hasn't yet returned her affection, she decides to give it a try. Her new clothes prove she is a stunner, and when she wins a game of charades, it shows she also has personality-plus. Garrison winds up proposing, but Prudence realizes she doesn't care for him after all -- it's Rovein, who recognized her beauty from the start, that she really loves. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marion Davies, Forrest Stanley, (more)
- 1922
Although it not as elaborate as When Knighthood Was in Flower, which was made later in the year, this Marion Davies romance did feature sumptuous sets, loads of extras and a plot-within-the-plot which takes place in Medieval Ireland. The story, written by Donn Byrne, a popular short story writer of the era, wasn't much -- it revolved around an old Irish custom called "the bride's play": after the wedding, the male guests would line up and the bride would ask each one, "Are you the one I love best?" Each one would say, "No," with only the groom responding, "Yes." Apparently sometime back in ancient history, a girl married a man she didn't love and the one she did care for used this little ceremony to steal her away. This tale is enough to worry the servants of Sir Fergus Cassidy (Wyndham Standing), because he has just wed Aileen Barrett (Davies) and her former lover, poet Bulner Meade (Carlton Miller), has joined the festivities. But they needn't have been concerned! -- when Meade tries to win her back, she slaps him with her shoe and sends him packing. Because of flimsy material like this, nobody knew yet that Marion Davies was quite a talented comedienne. Unfortunately, her producer/benefactor (and lover) William Randolph Hearst often insisted on putting her in films such as this one, which gave her little chance to do anything but look pretty. Incidentally, Davies didn't get a chance to play bride in real life until after Hearst's death. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1922
This Albert Capellani-directed drama was based on the novel by Kathleen Norris. When Dr. Strickland (Tom Guise) dies, he divides his estate in thirds between his two daughters, Alix (Seena Owen) and Cherry (Gladys Leslie), and his niece, Anne Little (Mildred Arden). But Anne's husband Justin (Robert Schable) figures out a way to get more of the estate. This helps fuel unhappiness between Cherry and her own husband, lumberman Martin Lloyd (Joe King). Peter Joyce (Matt Moore), meanwhile, has returned from a cruise, and proposes to Alix, who accepts. She's unaware that Peter left town out of disappointment after her sister married Martin. When things get too tense between Martin and Cherry, she moves in with Alix and Peter. An attraction rekindles between the two, and they plan to run off together. But the long-suffering Alix has observed it all, and she dissuades Cherry, telling her that it's for her own sake. Martin is injured in a lumber accident, and Cherry, realizing finally that she really cares, returns to him. Peter, too, realizes what he has in Alix and remains with her. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Seena Owen, Gladys Leslie, (more)
- 1921
In addition to her illustrious career as a screenwriter, Frances Marion also directed a few pictures. This one, based on a Fannie Hurst story that was published in the Saturday Evening Post, is typical of Marion's sentimental tastes. Since the screenwriter had worked quite a bit with Mary Pickford, it's not surprising that Sigrid Holmquist was cast to star here -- she had gained a reputation in her native country as "the Swedish Mary Pickford." Ma Birdsong, a widow (Margaret Seddon), is devoted to her two teenage children -- Jimmy (Lewis Sargent) and Essie (Holmquist). They live on New York's Lower East Side, and against her mother's wishes, Essie gets a job as a theater usher. The girl becomes involved with Joe Ullman, a young man of questionable morals (Edward Phillips). Mrs. Birdsong wants to meet Essie's sweetheart, but Ullman does everything he can to avoid this. Finally, when her mother is dying, Essie realizes how neglectful she has been. Still, Ullman refuses to come to Mrs. Birdsong's bedside. But Essie finds a kind stranger (Fred Thomson) who offers to play her boyfriend. Mrs. Birdsong dies believing that her daughter will be taken care of. And she's right -Essie and the stranger fall in love. Actor Fred Thomson, incidentally, was Frances Marion's husband. Later in the decade he became a cowboy star. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Margaret Seddon, Lewis Sargent, (more)
- 1921
Rest assured that this Buried Treasure is not the notorious animated porn film of the same name. Marion Davies plays a dual role: a dizzy modern debutante and a 17th century Spanish lass. After dreaming about pirate gold, the modern Davies convinces her boy friend Norman Kerry to go on a perilous treasure hunt. Meanwhile, Davies's father Anders Randolf also searches for buried treasure, albeit in the wrong direction thanks to his daughter's chicanery. It's all in fun, of course, as Marion Davies' best vehicles usually were. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marion Davies, Norman Kerry, (more)
- 1921
This crime drama begins when Anna (Seena Owen) gives up her career as a dancer to become the mistress of the wealthy playboy Alastair De Vries (Henry Sedley), but he soon tires of her and takes up with another floozie. In a rage, Anna tracks the couple down at a local restaurant and shoots Alastair to death then flees into hiding in Tahiti. Thomas McCarthy (E.K. Lincoln) is the New York detective assigned to the case who goes to the island to bring back the murderess. On the return trip, the ship sinks, and the couple swims to a remote desert island where they remain for two years. Anna falls in love with Thomas during their time alone, and she flags down a ship over Thomas' objections. The two return to New York where Anna must face trial for murder. To the judge, the jury recommends leniency for Anna by virtue of the obvious moral awakening she has experienced. The story opens in the courtroom and flashbacks are used to deliver the events that led to the trial. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Seena Owen, E.K. Lincoln, (more)
- 1920
When publisher and producer William Randolph Hearst was putting together a picture for his mistress, the pretty and highly underrated actress Marion Davies, he tried to make sure she had the best. This time around, the film featured direction by the highly capable Robert Z. Leonard and a story by Robert W. Chambers, a very popular writer of the day. Unfortunately, the film's plot didn't live up to the standards set by its author. As the film's title indicates, Stephanie Cleland (Davies) is a restless, adventurous young woman. She can't decide who she really loves, her foster brother and childhood sweetheart, Jim (Ralph Kellard) or art student Oswald Grismer (Carlyle Blackwell). Jim, an aspiring author, goes to Paris. While he is away, Stephanie and Oswald find themselves in a compromising position, and even though they are innocent, they are compelled to marry. The marriage, however, is in name only -- Stephanie tells him that if she finds that she loves him in a year's time, they can then live together. But Jim hears of the marriage and returns home. Jim and Stephanie find that they really do love each other, and Oswald falls off a train and dies, so now nothing stands in their way. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
