A Self-Made Failure

A Self-Made Failure
Lobby card
Directed by	William Beaudine
Written by	Tamar Lane (adaptation) Violet Clark (scenario) Lex Neal (scenario) John Grey (scenario)
Story by	J. K. McDonald
Produced by	J. K. McDonald
Starring	Lloyd Hamilton
Cinematography	Ray June Barney McGill
Edited by	H. P. Bretherton Beth Matz
Distributed by	Associated First National Pictures
Release date	June 29, 1924 (1924-06-29)
Running time	8 reels (7,345 feet)
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

A Self-Made Failure is a 1924 American silent comedy film distributed by Associated First National Pictures, later First National Pictures. It was directed by William Beaudine and starred silent comic Lloyd Hamilton and then child actor Ben Alexander. ^[1] At the time it was released, it one of the longest comedy features ever made. ^{[2] [3]}

Cast

• Lloyd Hamilton as Breezy, The Failure
• Ben Alexander as Sonny
• Matt Moore as John Steele
• Patsy Ruth Miller as Alice Neal
• Mary Carr as Grandma Neal
• Sam De Grasse as Cyrus Cruikshank
• Charles Reisner as Spike Malone (credited as Chuck Reisner)
• Victor Potel as Pokey Jones
• Dan Mason as Dan
• Harry Todd as The Constable
• Alta Allen as Mrs. Spike Malone
• Doris Duane as The Waitress
• Priscilla Moran as Alice Neal, age 4
• Joe McGray as Vermin
• Cameo the Dog as himself, Cameo

unbilled

• Monte Collins - ?
• Dot Farley - ?

Preservation

A Self-Made Failure is currently presumed lost. ^[4] In February of 2021, the film was cited by the National Film Preservation Board on their Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films list. ^[5]

References

1. "A Self-Made Failure". afi.com. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
2. Progressive Silent Film List: A Self-Made Failure at silentera.com
3. The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1921-30 by The American Film Institute, c.1971
4. "The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: A Self-Made Failure". memory.loc.gov. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
5. "7,200 Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films (1912-29)" (PDF). National Film Preservation Board. Retrieved April 11, 2026.

External links

• A Self-Made Failure at IMDb
• Lobby poster and still at silenthollywood.com