A Perfect Crime | |
---|---|
![]() Advertisement | |
Directed by | Allan Dwan |
Screenplay by | Allan Dwan |
Story by | Carl Clausen |
Based on | "The Perfect Crime", short story in The Saturday Evening Post |
Produced by | Allan Dwan Mack Sennett |
Starring | Monte Blue Jacqueline Logan Stanton Heck Hardee Kirkland Carole Lombard |
Cinematography | H. Lyman Broening |
Production company | Allan Dwan Productions |
Distributed by | Associated Producers |
Release date |
|
Running time | 5 reels |
Country | United States |
Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
A Perfect Crime is a 1921 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Monte Blue, Jacqueline Logan, Stanton Heck, Hardee Kirkland, and Carole Lombard. It was Logan and Lombard's feature film debut. Lombard was credited as Jane Peters at the time. [1] It is not known whether the film survives, which suggests it may be lost. [2] [3]
Based on a short story published in The Saturday Evening Post on September 25, 1920, by Carl Clausen, the movie concerns the life of bank messenger Wally Griggs and his wastly different alter ego James Brown. [4]
A mild-mannered bank messenger named Wally Griggs lives a double life as James Brown, a wild and rakish adventurer. He catches the eye of bank president Halliday, curious about his exploits, and of his coworker and only friend Mary, who is romantically interested in him.
Mary lost her fortune after trusting a swindler named "Big Bill" Thaine, who is now a district attorney determined to marry her despite her reluctance. Wally decides to steal money from the bank, leading to his arrest by Thaine. He sues for false imprisonment and in the process manages to win back Mary's money. He then returns the stolen bank bonds while faking amnesia. [note 1]
A publisher, intrigued by Wally's tales about his life as James Brown, offers him a book deal. Making enough money to support himself as an author, Wally quits his job and marries Mary.
Allan Dwan was a pioneering Canadian-born American motion picture director, producer, and screenwriter.
Carole Lombard was an American actress. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Lombard 23rd on its list of the greatest female stars of Classic Hollywood Cinema.
William Wallace Halleck Reid was an American actor in silent film, referred to as "the screen's most perfect lover". He also had a brief career as a racing driver.
Wesley Ruggles was an American film director.
Jacqueline Medura Logan was an American actress and silent film star. Logan was a WAMPAS Baby Star of 1922.
Code of the Sea is a 1924 American silent drama film produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Victor Fleming and starred Rod La Rocque and Jacqueline Logan.
Eldon Raymond McKee, also credited as Roy McKee, was an American stage and screen actor. His film debut was in the 1912 production The Lovers' Signal. Over the next 23 years, he performed in no less than 172 additional films.
Stanton Heck, was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 50 films between 1918 and 1928. Earlier in his career, he appeared on stage in musicals such as 1906's A Parisian Model.
Madame X is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Frank Lloyd and starring Pauline Frederick. The film is based on the 1908 play Madame X, by French playwright Alexandre Bisson, and was adapted for the screen by J.E. Nash and Frank Lloyd. A copy of this film survives in the George Eastman House Motion Picture Collection.
Hardee Kirkland was an American film actor and director of the silent era who appeared on stage.
Winter Amos Hall was a New Zealand actor of the silent era who later appeared in sound films. He performed in more than 120 films between 1916 and 1938. Prior to that, he had a career as a stage actor in Australia and the United States. In sound films, he was frequently typecast as a clergyman.
Ralph Waldo Ince was an American pioneer film actor, director and screenwriter whose career began near the dawn of the silent film era. Ralph Ince was the brother of John E. Ince and Thomas H. Ince.
Man of the World is a 1931 American pre-Code romantic drama directed by Richard Wallace and starring William Powell, Carole Lombard, and Wynne Gibson.
Shadows is a 1931 British crime film directed by Alexander Esway and starring Jacqueline Logan, Bernard Nedell and Gordon Harker. The screenplay involves the estranged son of a newspaper owner, who returns to his father's good favour by unmasking a gang of criminals.
A Splendid Hazard is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Henry B. Walthall. The film is based on the 1910 book of the same name. The film was produced by the Mayflower Photoplay Company. It is not known whether the film currently survives; this suggests that it may be a lost film.
Power is a 1928 American silent comedy film directed by Howard Higgin and starring William Boyd, Alan Hale, Sr., and Jacqueline Logan.
The Scoffer is a surviving 1920 American silent drama film produced and directed by Allan Dwan and starring Mary Thurman. It was released through Associated First National Pictures.
The Fighting Demon is a 1925 American silent melodrama film. Directed by Arthur Rosson, the film stars Richard Talmadge, Lorraine Eason, and Dick Sutherland. It was released on May 24, 1925.
Associated Producers was an American film production and distribution company of the silent era.
David Kirkland was an American actor and film director of the silent and early sound eras.