Reginald Denny Movies
The last in a long line of British actors, Reginald Denny left school at 16 to enter the family trade. His first important assignment was the role of Prince Danilo in a travelling company of The Merry Widow. He first came to the U.S. in a 1912 production of Quaker Girl, then returned to England to star in musical productions. After World War I service as a Lieutenant in the 112th squadron of the British Flying Corps, Denny appeared in several Broadway productions and made his film bow at the New Jersey-based world film studios. Hired on the basis of his finely tuned physiques, Denny starred in Universal's boxing short-subject series The Leather Pushers before being promoted to features. During the 1920s, Denny was one of Universal's most popular stars, headlining a series of frothy domestic comedies, most of which co-starred Laura LaPlante and were directed by William A. Seiter. In talkies, Denny's British accent made it difficult for him to continue in the "all-American" roles he'd been playing at Universal, but he continued to flourish as a character actor, showing up in everything from Romeo and Juliet (1936) to Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1937). He also played the "silly ass" second lead of Algy in several Bulldog Drummond "B" pictures. Since his World War I experience, Denny remained active in aviation; he was a pioneer in the field of radio-controlled aircraft. In fact, the U.S. Navy prototype radio aircraft TDD was named in his honor (the initials stood for Target Drone Denny). A busy actor on films and television into the 1960s, Reginald Denny returned to Broadway in 1958 to replace Robert Coote as Col. Pickering in My Fair Lady. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1928
Accustomed to being directed by William A. Seiter, Universal comedy star Reginald Denny was thrown off his usual pace when That's My Daddy was assigned to Fred C. Newmeyer. As a result, Denny ended up directing most of the picture himself -- and also rewrote the screenplay. The story concerns a wealthy young groom-to-be (Denny) who, dressed in formal attire and top hat, is speeding to the chapel, where his bride awaits. Meanwhile, cute little orphan Jane la Verne dreams of being reunited with her real daddy, imagining him to be wearing top hat and tails. Running away from the orphanage, the kid is struck down by a car (not Denny's!) and rushed off to the hospital, where in her delirium she describes her "dream daddy". As this is transpiring, a traffic cop pulls Denny over and asks "Where's the fire?" Hoping to talk his way out of a traffic ticket, Denny claims that he is rushing to visit his hospitalized child -- little realizing that the cop has just come from little La Verne's bedside. With a smile on his Irish mug, the cop escorts Denny to the hospital, greeting the child with "Your daddy's here." Thus it is that our prevaricating hero is saddled with a "daughter" -- on his wedding day! That's My Daddy didn't do as well at the box-office as previous Reginald Denny vehicles, a fact that the star later attributed to the studio's decision to recut and retitle the film, transforming the sweet little juvenile lead into a bratty wisecracker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1927
Another of Reginald Denny's money-spinning Universal vehicles, Fast and Furious casts Denny as "speed demon" Tom Brown. Fascinated with fast roadsters, Tom enjoys nothing more than "opening up" on the highway -- at least, until he's run off the road by another reckless driver. After emerging from the hospital, Tom discovers that he's developed a mortal fear of automobiles -- in fact, he jumps three feet in the air whenever he hears a honking horn. Naturally, the outcome of the plot hinges on Tom's willingness to man the controls of a racing car for the sake of his sweetheart Ethel (Barbara Worth). All that prevents Fast and Furious from being a "perfect" Reginald Denny picture is a moment near the climax, when our jailed hero is released from his cell when his father bribes the guard: undoubtedly, Denny's fans would have preferred that he figure a way out of his dilemma. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reginald Denny, Barbara Worth, (more)
- 1927
No relation to the later Rodgers-Hart Broadway musical, On Your Toes was a star vehicle for personable Universal Pictures breadwinner Reginald Denny. Harking back to his old "Leather Pushers" two-reelers, Denny plays Kane Halliday, the son of a celebrated prizefighter. Though he wants to follow in his father's footwork, Kane is dissuaded by his pacifistic grandmother (Mary Carr), who insists that the boy pursue a career as a ballet dancer (!) Circumstances force Kane into the boxing ring, but to pacify his grandma he persuades the palookas at his training camp to pose as "aesthetic" dancers. Eventually, of course, the truth is revealed, whereupon granny becomes Kane's biggest fan. One of the film's running gags, wherein Kane's ears begin to wiggle whenever he's riled, was reused by Laurel and Hardy in A Chump at Oxford (1940). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reginald Denny, Barbara Worth, (more)
- 1927
Fate is a funny thing: If young physician John Graham (Reginald Denny) had not been stuck in a faulty elevator overnight with stage star Molly O'Day (Marian Nixon), the two might never have met and fall in love. Once the couple is rescued, John and Molly legalize their union at City Hall. At this point, Molly discovers that her contract stipulates a salary decrease in the event of her marriage, so with John's consent she keeps her wedding a secret. Soon after, Molly joins her theatrical troupe on a steamship journey to England. Not wishing to be left behind, and still anxious not to reveal his marital status, John signs on as the ship's doctor. The laughs come pouring in as both Molly and John are afflicted with the "green-eyed monster" thanks to the intervention of several would-be sweethearts. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reginald Denny, Marian Nixon, (more)
- 1927
Silent film comedian Reginald Denny's regular leading lady Laura La Plante had gone on to bigger things at Universal in 1927, thus Denny was co-starred with Gertrude Olmstead in A Cheerful Fraud. Denny plays a wealthy young man whose one true love (Olmstead) chooses to keep her distance. To get closer to the girl, Denny takes a job as her family's butler. Complications ensue when Denny is forced to be in two places at once without exposing his harmless deception. Like most of Denny's Universal vehicles, A Cheerful Fraud brought home the box-office bacon, enabling the studio to finance such chancier projects as The Man Who Laughs. The director was William A. Seiter, Denny's favorite, who always managed to pluck something fresh from the most banal and timeworn of plot devices. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reginald Denny, Gertrude Olmstead, (more)
- 1926
What Happened to Jones takes approximately 70 minutes' screen time to tell in this frothy comedy. On the night before his wedding, Tom Jones (Reginald Denny) attends a poker game with his corpulent pal Ebeneezer Goodly (Otis Harlan). When the cops raid the game, Tom and Eb sneak into a ladies' Turkish bath, making their escape in female drag. Upon arriving in Eb's home, Tom is forced by circumstance to pose as Eb's brother, a bishop. It turns out that the bishop is slated to officiate over the wedding of Tom and his sweetheart Lucille (Marian Nixon), putting our hero in the pickle of having to be in two places at once when he's not anywhere at all! With films like What Happened to Jones to his credit, it's no wonder that Reginald Denny was Universal's number one comedy star. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reginald Denny, Marian Nixon, (more)
- 1926
The best of comic actor Reginald Denny's silent vehicles, Skinner's Dress Suit is a surprising contemporary piece about status-seeking. Denny is an office worker whose wife Laura LaPlante hectors him into asking for a raise. Not only does Denny get the extra dough, but he's asked to take a cut in salary. Nonetheless, he tells LaPlante that he's gotten the increase, whereupon she delightedly makes plans to spend several hundred dollars on home and wardrobe improvements. Denny is fitted out with a new dress suit, which makes him a social success--and obliges him to stay one step ahead of the tailor whenever he's behind in his payments. Just when it appears as though Denny will be swamped in debt, a series of cute coincidences transform him into his office's most valued employee. This second film adaptation of Henry Irving Dodge's novel Skinner's Dress Suit is a vast improvement upon the 1917 filming, with a peppy Charleston sequence thrown in as a bonus. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reginald Denny, Laura La Plante, (more)
- 1926
The felicitous star-director combination of Reginald Denny and William A. Seiter served up another moneyspinner for Universal with Rolling Home. Denny plays young businessman Nat Alden, who is fired from his job when one too many of his surefire business schemes fizzles. He is given a lift home by his old pal Dan (Ben Hendricks Jr.), who happens to be the chauffeur of Nat's ex-boss Grubell (E. J. Ratcliffe). When his neighbors see Nat alighting from Grubell's Rolls-Royce, they naturally assume that our hero is a huge success. Thanks to this surge of public confidence, Nat is able to float one more business deal, which turns out to be a financial bonanza for all concerned. As an added fillip, he wins the love of local beauty Phyllis (Marion Nixon) -- but only after convincing the down-to-earth heroine that he's not a millionaire! Incidentally, both of Denny's leading ladies during his Universal period, Laura LaPlante and Marion Nixon, became the wives of director Seiter (though not, of course, at the same time). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reginald Denny, Marian Nixon, (more)
- 1926
Having squandered his allowance, gay blade Tom Eggett (Reginald Denny) is given a second chance when he inherits his uncle's department store. If he can post a profit within three months, the store will be his forever; if not, it's back to the unemployment line. An aficionado of amusement parks, Tom transforms the store into a funfair for the masses, with roller-skating sales clerks, scantily clad female mannequins, and various and sundry games of chance. Store manager Cyrus Crabb (Lucien Littlefield), who aspires to Tom's job, tries his best to undermine our hero, but with the help of pretty secretary Grace Gordon (Blanche Mehaffey) Tom wins out at the end. Take It From Me was another winner from the stellar actor-director team of Reginald Denny and William A. Seiter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reginald Denny, Blanche Mehaffey, (more)
- 1925
During the 1920s, Reginald Denny was popular in pictures for portraying all-American young men (this changed after the sound era revealed his British accent). He plays Thomas Berford, who inherited his father's business and has made a huge success of it. The only competitor who remains uncowed is George Stone (Tyrone Power Sr.). Stone becomes really furious when his daughter Alicia (Marion Nixon) becomes engaged to Berford. Trouble brews for the young businessman when a girl, Claire (Pauline Garon), shows up and claims that he married her on January 9, 1923. Berford is desperate to prove her wrong and, with his secretary Henry (Lee Moran), goes on a mad chase to track down the only man who has a record of his whereabouts on that day. During the search, Berford grabs the wrong briefcase by mistake and discovers it is loaded with money. His search is a failure and he goes home, only to be faced once again with Claire. Then Alicia shows up and Berford scrambles to hide the two women from each other. Finally, the police and Alicia's father converge on Berford's house. When Claire finds out that Berford is in love with Alicia she admits that she was hired by Stone to cause trouble. The money Berford took turns out to be his own, and in the midst of all the confusion, Alicia calls on a minister and marries her man. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reginald Denny, Marian Nixon, (more)
- 1925
Reginald Denny is Alec Dupree, a young but serious college professor who is hard at work on a book. He is interrupted by a colleague who needs someone to show wealthy widow Agnes Clevenger (Cissy Fitzgerald) the town. The idea is to encourage Agnes to donate money to the college. Alec agrees, but soon he finds his evening overbooked -- he is also called upon to entertain a friend's wife and the pretty Hazel Deming (Marion Nixon), who he loves. He winds up dining at the same restaurant with all three women, none of whom realize that they're not Dupree's only date. Then he gets a message to return to his hotel, where he finds yet another women -- an old flame of his who is unhappily married. Her angry husband shows up, and Dupree desperately tries to hide her in another room. Even though he winds up in all sorts of trouble, he still manages to run off with Hazel, who accepts his proposal. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reginald Denny, Marian Nixon, (more)
- 1925
Long after the death of Wallace Reid, writer Byron Morgan was still coming up with the type of road and racing stories he created for the late star. Reginald Denny has the lead in this especially hilarious comedy-thriller. Because he stays too long at his bachelor party, Tom Hayden (Denny) shows up late to his wedding to Betty Browne (Gertrude Olmstead). As a result, the ceremony is called off and Hayden's family disowns him. So he and his valet Sambo (Tom Wilson) decide to take the double-decker wedding car on a cross-country trip, paying their way by supplying tourists with chicken dinners and radio music. In the desert, Hayden runs into Betty and her angry parents (Fred Esmelton and Lucille Ward). When animals break loose from a nearby circus, Hayden saves the Brownes and when he arrives in Los Angeles, he drives Mr. Browne's car in a big race. He wins -- and wins Betty. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1924
Reginald Denny seems to be doing a Harold Lloyd impersonation in this comedy, right down to the glasses, and maybe he was -- the plot concerns a hypochondriac, like Lloyd's 1923 hit Why Worry?. Although Rufus Billop (Denny) is convinced he will die at any minute, he has outlived his whole family with the exception of his Aunt Beulah (Lucille Ward). While visiting her he decides he desperately needs a doctor. After fighting against the tough manipulations of a towering woman chiropractor (Blanche Payson), he finds a " real" doctor (Clarence Geldert) who agrees that he needs serious care. The only thing holding Billop back from entering a sanitarium is a lack of funds -- he will inherit 750,000 dollars in three years, but if he dies any earlier all the money goes to charity. After the doctor assures a trio of lenders (Otis Harlan, William V. Mong, and Tom Ricketts) that there's really nothing wrong with Billop, they front him a hundred thousand if they will wind up with his whole fortune. So Billop happily takes on a full time nurse and lays in bed all day with a book and a thermometer. But when the first nurse, "Death Watch Mary" (Martha Mattox), doesn't work out, he is given pretty Dolores Hicks (a young and inexperienced Mary Astor). Billop falls in love with her, and when the maid (Helen Lynch) informs him that women like men who "aren't afraid of nothin'," he stops languishing in bed and starts racing cars and riding motorcycles. His brushes with death almost kill his lenders, who will lose their investment if he dies before he receives his inheritance. Dolores finally gets a lawyer to make out a fair contract, and she convinces the three men to sign it as they helplessly watch Billop painting a flagpole some 20 or so stories above a busy street. Although Denny's performance may owe something to Lloyd, this picture was actually based on the novel by Harry Leon Wilson. In addition a successful play about a hypochondriac, The Nervous Wreck, ran on Broadway in 1924, and it later became the musical Whoopee!, a stage and screen hit for Eddie Cantor -- clearly hypochondriacs were marketable entertainment at the time! ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reginald Denny, Mary Astor, (more)
- 1924
This comedy-drama was based on the novel Love Insurance by Earl Derr Biggers and stars all-American boy Reginald Denny (at least he played all-American boys until sound pictures revealed his British accent). Denny is Dick Minot, who is employed by Floyd's Insurance Company. Lord Harrowby (William Austin) has taken out a hundred-thousand-dollar policy insuring his upcoming wedding to heiress Cynthia Meyrick (Ruth Dwyer). Minot is sent off to make sure that the wedding takes place, and meets Cynthia on the train. The two fall for each other, but Minot is determined to do his job and make sure that Cynthia marries Harrowby. He even exposes a Lord Harrowby impostor and saves the real Harrowby from some trouble with a chorus girl. But Harrowby, who is broke, assigns the policy to Wells (Tom McGuire), and Cynthia breaks the engagement because of it, which cancels it completely. So Minot is able to win Cynthia without upsetting his employers. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reginald Denny, Ruth Dwyer, (more)
- 1924
Roxbury Mecroft (Richard Tucker) has to go to New York incognito to engage in some top-secret financial work, and he asks his pal, architect Terry Brock (Reginald Denny), to assume his identity while he is away. As a result, bachelor Brock has to vacation in Catalina with Mecroft's wife, Edith (Ethel Grey Terry), and annoying little girl, Toodles (Muriel Frances Dana). Edith has brought her sister, Connie (Laura LaPlante), along on the trip and Brock falls madly in love with her. This causes a huge scandal amongst the society folk at Catalina and causes the hotel management to investigate the situation. Brock is compelled to evade the gossips and troublemakers in various ways in order to pursue his romance. He finds himself in a number of jams before the situation is settled to everyone's satisfaction. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reginald Denny, Laura La Plante, (more)
- 1924
Against the wishes of director Harry A. Pollard, Reginald Denny insisted on casting Laura La Plante to play opposite him. His choice of leading lady was a winning one -- La Plante became Universal's favorite leading lady for the rest of the silent era. When a wealthy man is advised to go West for his health, he sends his chauffeur, Jimmy Wood (Denny), ahead of him. Jimmy meets up with society girl Betty Rockford (La Plante), who mistakes him for famous race car driver "Splinters" Wood (Malcolm Denny). Because he has run up a big hotel bill, Jimmy enters a road race with his boss' car. One of the spectators at the race happens to be his boss, who is furious and wants to fire him. But with Betty's help, Jimmy overcomes many obstacles and emerges victorious. He also wins Betty's heart. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reginald Denny, Fred Vroom, (more)
- 1923
Universal showed off their impressive back lot in this comedy-western starring Hoot Gibson as a cowboy turned movie stunt-man. The plot is something about a visiting Arabian prince (fellow studio western hero William E. Lawrence) but the film mainly functions as an excuse to parade a host of studio stars. Among the Universal contract players playing themselves were Billie Dove, Norman Kerry, King Baggot (the studio's first star), Mary Philbin and Reginald Denny. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hoot Gibson, Billie Dove, (more)
- 1923
Since his British accent remained conveniently unheard during the silent era, Reginald Denny made a wonderful all-American hero. He's nicely cast in this romance based on the novel by Jack London. Pat Glendon (Denny) has been raised in the California mountains by his ex-pugilist father (Charles K. French); although the young man is physically powerful, he's so shy around women that he literally runs away from them. Glendon Sr. encourages his son to pursue a career in the ring, and he becomes successful enough to earn the nickname "the Abysmal Brute." His problems with girls continue, however, until he saves society miss Marion Sangster (Mabel Julienne Scott) from drowning. Their acquaintance turns quickly to romance, but Pat has trouble adjusting to the social graces, in addition to hiding his profession from Marion. Not unless he can strip away all hint of his former bashfulness will he have a chance to beat out his romantic rival and win the girl. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1922
John Barrymore's impressive performance in this picture is a testament to the strength of his talent, because it had a lot to overcome -- according to director Albert Parker, the famed thespian was on a bender for much of the shoot. This version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories (adapted from the play by William Gillette) was shot on location in London and Switzerland; when the crew headed back to the States to complete shooting, Parker pleaded with Barrymore to quit drinking. Surprisingly, Barrymore obliged, and was sober for the rest of production. The storyline follows the play pretty closely, including Holmes' early days, in which he decided to study criminology after college graduation. Along with his faithful assistant, Dr. Watson (Roland Young), Holmes comes face to face with arch criminal Professor Moriarty (Gustav von Seyffertitz). Moriarty is causing trouble for Prince Alexis (Reginald Denny), and Holmes craftily outwits the villain. This excellent picture had only a few faults -- one was its lengthy subtitles. The other noticeable gaffe was casting Carol Dempster (who was borrowed from D.W. Griffith) to play the romantic interest, Alice Faulkner -- her performance is only passable. A young William Powell has a small supporting role. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Barrymore, Roland Young, (more)
- 1922
This horse-racing melodrama was Reginald Denny's first starring feature, after making a strong impression in a series of shorts called The Leather Pushers. Denny is Donald Gordon, the son of Colonel Moncrief Gordon, a Kentucky gentleman (Emmett King). Colonel Gordon makes a ten-thousand-dollar bet with his neighbor, Colon Home Woolrich (Lionel Belmore), that his horse, Duke Charles, can beat Woolrich's thoroughbred, Twilight, once they are mature enough to race. Donald incurs his father's wrath by marrying Alice Brown (Lillian Rich), the stableman's daughter. After he is sent away from his home, he goes to New York, where he is shanghaied by Captain Wolff (Wilfred Lucas). He is a prisoner on Wolff's ship for three years. Back home, Donald's cousin, Ralph (Walter McGrail), has stolen money from Colonel Gordon and claimed that Donald is the culprit. He plots to make a killing in the upcoming horse race by making sure that Twilight wins. Donald manages to return home in time to stop Ralph's plan from going through, and rides Duke Charles to victory. This film was adapted from the stage play The Suburban by Charles T. Dazey. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reginald Denny, Lillian Rich, (more)
- 1921
Photos reveal that stage and film luminary George Arliss made a perfect Benjamin Disreli -- this silent was the filmed version of the Louis N. Parker play in which he had starred. The backdrop of this story reveals the prejudice surrounding the Jewish, middle-class Disraeli when he becomes prime minister, and his successful efforts to overcome Russian intrigues and acquire the Suez Canal for England. There's also romance offered by Arliss' wife, playing Disraeli's adored spouse, Lady Beaconsfield, and young lovers Louise Huff and Reginald Denny as Clarissa, the daughter of the Duke of Glastonbury and Charles, Viscount Deeford respectively. Arliss remade Disraeli as a highly successful talkie in 1929. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Arliss, E.J. Ratcliffe, (more)
- 1921
Elsie Ferguson plays aspiring New England actress Lizzie Parsons in this light comedy, based on a Saturday Evening Post story by Rita Weiman. With the help of her sympathetic grandmother (Letty Ford), Lizzie makes it to New York, but her stage career goes absolutely nowhere until she meets manager Oswald Kane (Marc MacDermott). With Kane's help, she changes from Lizzie Parsons to the temperamental Russian dramatic actress Lisa Parsinova and becomes a huge star. Her true identity is kept a deep, dark secret, even from Brett Page (Reginald Denny), the man-about-town who falls for her. But Lizzie's maid, Etta (Octavia Handworth), discovers the truth and uses her knowledge to blackmail her. Finally Lizzie tires of the whole ruse and decides to fake Lisa's death. She goes out rowing and is thought drowned. But Brett, who has discovered her real identity, tracks her down. He decides that he loves Lizzie even more than he loved Lisa and they wed. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elsie Ferguson, Reginald Denny, (more)
- 1921
In spite of the fact that George V. Hobart's play was merely a trite and overdone story parading as a moralistic allegory, it made loads of money. When it was finally made into a film, it became even more preachy and self-important. Youth (Richard Barthelmess) meets Ambition (E.J. Ratcliffe) and leaves Love (Marjorie Daw), his mother, and his small-town roots for the big city. There, in his search for Experience (John Miltern), he meets Pleasure (Lilyan Tashman) and hangs out at the Primrose Path with the likes of Temptation (Nita Naldi) and Intoxication (Helen Ray). Back home, Youth's mother dies, and Love tries unsuccessfully to reach him. When Youth's money runs out his newfound friends all leave him and he sinks into a life of drug addiction, aided by Habit (Agnes Marc). As he is about to rob the home of Wealth (Charles Stevenson), he hears a church choir and comes to his senses. Accompanied by Experience he returns home, where he starts life over again with Love. Thankfully, allegories -- which were very popular in the 1910s -- pretty much had died out by the early '20s. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Barthelmess, John Miltern, (more)
