Charlotte Merriam Movies
The daughter of an army colonel, blond Charlotte Merriam entered films at the age of 13 when offered a contract by Universal during a visit to that studio. She had a couple of good supporting roles in the early '20s -- Captain Blood (1924), Edna Ferber's So Big (1924) -- but was playing bit parts by the end of the silent era. After the advent of sound, the no longer quite young Merriam began specializing in portraying tarnished society women, notably Marcia Mae Jones' drunken mother in 1931's Night Nurse ("I'm a dipsomaniac! A dipsomaniac, I tell ya! And I'm proud of it") and as the syphilis infected Elise in Damaged Lives (1934). She seems to have retired after that. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide- 1924
Although the Warner Bros. version of Rafael Sabatini's novel made Errol Flynn a star in 1935, it wasn't the first time the romantic adventure was made into a film. J. Warren Kerrigan starred as Peter Blood, the physician turned pirate in this silent Vitagraph version. Peter Blood gets lumped in with a group of rebels who have plotted against King James and is sent to the island of Barbados as a slave. He is purchased, along with his friend, Jeremy Pitt (James Morrison), by Colonel Bishop (Wilfred North), at the request of his willful niece, Arabella (Jean Paige). When a Spanish ship takes over the town, Blood leads the slaves and captures the vessel. After becoming the terror of the seas (but never attacking an English ship), Blood and his men rescue Lord Wade (Allan Forrest) and Arabella from a burning ship. When William III ascends to the British throne, Blood aligns himself with the new king, defeats the French fleet and saves Port Royal. He is appointed governor of Jamaica for his heroic deeds, and finally wins the hand of Arabella. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- J. Warren Kerrigan, Jean Paige, (more)
- 1923
Colleen Moore who, later in the year, would become indelibly identified with Flaming Youth, got raves for her performance in this adaptation of a Fannie Hurst novel. Sarah Juke (Moore) works in a department store, as does her sweetheart, Harry Smith (James Morrison). Jimmy Fitzgibbons (Eddie Phillips) temporarily attracts her attention, but she decides to stay with Smith and they marry. The couple live a poor but happy life while Fitzgibbons becomes a successful songwriter. Sarah is dazzled by the antics of stage actress Angine Sprint (Charlotte Merriam), and becomes dissatisfied with her marriage. She has all but decided to go away with Angine when her husband falls seriously ill. The doctor recommends that he go to California before winter falls. The couple are deeply in debt, and Sarah not only has to support them, she also has to come up with 300 dollars to move them West. But she manages to come through, and wins the 300 dollars in a dance contest. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colleen Moore, James Morrison, (more)
