Myron Selznick Movies
Myron Selznick was a producer and former head of Selznick Pictures just before that studio's collapse, but he is best remembered as a pioneering talent agent and held under his wing the careers of such stars and directors as Constance Bennett, George Cukor, Alfred Hitchcock, W.C. Fields, Paulette Goddard, Rouben Mamoulian, and Laurence Olivier. Selznick was the brother of David O. Selznick and the son of movie mogul Lewis J. Selznick. Following his drop-out from Columbia University, Selznick went to work in his father's company as a film examiner. He eventually rose through the ranks to become a producer before he was of legal age, making him the youngest producer in Hollywood. By the time he was 21, Selznick had become the chief producer of Selznick Pictures. He was then given the presidency until 1923, when the company folded. Afterward, Selznick made an unsuccessful bid as a freelance producer. He found his true calling by 1928 as an agent. In that capacity, he was instrumental in developing the trend whereby stars produced their own pictures. A powerful force in Tinseltown, he was as hated as he was loved. Selznick died in his mid-forties. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1927
Perhaps it's just as well that Topsy and Eva is available only for archival showings. The film was based on a popular play by Catherine Chisholm Cushing, itself "inspired" by characters and events in Harriet Beecher Stowe's controversial Uncle Tom's Cabin. The venerable vaudeville duo of Rosetta and Vivian Duncan are starred as Topsy (in blackface) and Eva. None of Stowe's scathing social commentary remains in the film; even Uncle Tom (Noble Johnson) is relegated to a bit role. For the most part, the film concentrates on "black imp" Topsy's efforts to be as virtuous as "white saint" Eva, who bought Topsy at a slave auction for a nickel. Most of the "jokes" are predicated on the notion that to be black is to be unhygienic (there's a sight gag involving a dog that must be seen to be disbelieved). At one point, Topsy prays to God to be transformed into a Caucasian! Worthless as entertainment, Topsy and Eva is nonetheless an invaluable record of the sorry state of race relations in the 1920s (PS: Although two-reel comedy expert Del Lord was credited with the direction, the great D. W. Griffith reportedly worked on the film's retakes). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vivian Duncan, Gibson Gowland, (more)
- 1927
This silent Western starring also-ran cowboy Bill Cody was one of only a handful of films independently produced by future Hollywood agent Myron Selznick, the brother of David O. Selznick. Selznick's other producer credits included the costume drama Rupert of Hentzau (1923) and an ill-timed version of the stage hit Topsy and Eva starring the Duncan Sisters. What attracted Selznick to this commonplace Western about a cowboy searching for the man who killed his father for his gold mine is anybody's guess. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Cody, David Dunbar, (more)
- 1923
A remake of a 1916 Clara Kimball Young vehicle, Common Law stars Corinne Griffith as a woman more sinned against than necessary. Forced to support herself after the death of her wealthy mother, Griffith becomes an artist's model in Paris. While being kept by wealthy Conway Tearle (reprising his role from the 1916 film), she falls in love with tempestuous artist Elliot Dexter. A tragedy results, but don't worry, Griffith ends up with the man she truly loves all the same. Common Law was remade a second time in 1931, with Constance Bennett in the lead. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Corinne Griffith, Conway Tearle, (more)
- 1923
Author Anthony Hope's sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda had been filmed once before, in 1915. But filmgoers were far more likely to compare this production to Rex Ingram's version of Prisoner of Zenda, which was released in 1922. Rupert of Hentzau suffered greatly in comparison; in spite of lavish production values and an all-star cast, it just didn't have the same spark as Zenda. Part of the reason is the casting -- some of those big names just weren't right for their roles. Bert Lytell was a poor replacement for Lewis Stone, Lew Cody was no Ramon Novarro, and Elaine Hammerstein was nothing more than decorative. Although Rupert of Hentzau (Cody) was supposedly killed at the end of Prisoner of Zenda, he actually escaped and is still alive to cause trouble for Queen Flavia (Hammerstein). Tired of the bad treatment she suffers at the hands of the King (Lytell), Flavia sends for his look-alike, Rudolph Rassendyll (also Lytell). But Rupert intercepts her letter and plans to use it so that he can take the throne. He kills the king and it looks like his scheme may be successful, but Rassendyll defeats him in a duel. Flavia winds up abdicating so that she can become Rassendyll's wife. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elaine Hammerstein, Bert Lytell, (more)
- 1922
Producer Lewis J. Selznek showed off his skills as a showman with this flashy Elaine Hammerstein vehicle. While Hammerstein was never one of the biggest film stars of the '20s, he backed her up here with an adventuresome and picturesque tale. Beth Wynn (Hammerstein) is a spoiled society girl. At a fashionable party, she agrees to marry Francis Fraser (Hallam Cooley) if he beats her in an airplane race. But the race ends in disaster -- the wing of Beth's craft breaks and it crashes in the mountains of Mexico. She is rescued by three rough men who cut cards to see who gets her. One of the men, Buck Fearnley (Conway Tearle), feels sorry for her and buys her from the winner. He takes her to his cabin, where she overcomes her loathing for him and helps him to become regenerated. Fearnley agrees to send her back to Fraser, but the train carrying her home is swept over a bridge during a storm. Fearnley heroically saves her, while Fraser, who proves to be a coward, is washed away in the raging river. Beth and Fearnley acknowledge their love for each other and are united. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elaine Hammerstein, Conway Tearle, (more)
- 1922
This comedy was a satire on serious melodrama, and ex-Mack Sennett director Henry Lehrman gave it as many thrills as it had laughs. Less successfully, it featured titles by several newspaper columnists, who proved they were wittier on paper than they were on screen. Owen Moore (who, aside from being Mary Pickford's first husband, was an accomplished farceur) plays Richard Boyd, a wealthy idler so cool that he never loses his top hat throughout the film. It even stays on his head when his fiancee, Pauline Blake (Pauline Garon), insists that he go to work or she will leave him. The Boyd Company, which he inherited, has an option on a fleet of ships, and he decides to pick it up. But Young, an Oriental merchant prince (Togo Yamamoto) wants the fleet himself, and he orders his confederates to shanghai Boyd until the option runs out. Since Pauline refuses to leave Boyd's side, she's kidnapped too. The ship wrecks and Pauline winds up hidden away in Young's expansive villa. Boyd chases Young's motor boat with a hydroplane, and with the help of some sailors, rescues Pauline. Boyd makes the option and wins his girl's devotion. One embarrassing aspect of this film -- at least to modern eyes -- is the blackface performance Tom Wilson as Boyd's valet, Sam. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Owen Moore, Pauline Garon, (more)
