An Even Break

Last updated
An Even Break
An Even Break poster.jpg
Film poster
Directed by Lambert Hillyer
Written byLambert Hillyer (scenario)
Starring Olive Thomas
Charles Gunn
Cinematography John Stuart Stumar
Distributed by Triangle Film Corporation
Release date
  • August 5, 1917 (1917-08-05)
Running time
50 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

An Even Break is a 1917 American silent comedy-drama film written and directed by Lambert Hillyer, and starring Olive Thomas and Charles Gunn. A print of the film is preserved at the Library of Congress. [1] Prints and/or fragments were found in the Dawson Film Find in 1978.

Contents

Plot

As described in a film magazine review, [2] as children Jimmie Strang (Gunn), Mary (Thompson), and Claire Curtis (Thomas) tell each other what they will be when they grow up, and Jimmie succeeds in becoming a noted inventor. He goes to New York City to secure the manufacture of his machine, which has been ordered by the firm operated by Luther Collins (Burke), which hopes to revive its weakened finances with the invention. Arriving in New York, he is taken in hand by the son David (French) from Harding & Co., which contracts to build the machine. But this firm is avaricious and decides to bankrupt Collins and keep the machine as its own asset. Jimmie is initiated into the gay life of the cabaret. He discovers that the renown dancer Claire, loved by all but won by none, is his childhood friend. He obtains what no one else has accomplished and meets with Claire, and their childhood fondness is renewed. Then Mary arrives, and it turns out that Jimmie had in a moment of haste proposed to her back home. Claire decides she will give Mary a fighting chance for Jimmie's love, and takes her in hand and teaches her the city fast life. Mary likes it so much that when Jimmie believes his machine has been taken and his friends back home ruined, she refuses to return home and decides to go on the stage. Claire takes Jimmie back to his home, and in the nick of time saves his machine. When she mentions that Mary will be glad, Jimmie tells her that Mary has turned him down, and said that if he thought he could make Claire care for him, he should try. This results in a happy ending.

Cast

Reception

Like many American films of the time, An Even Break was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. The Chicago Board of Censors required cuts of two closeups of dancers over floor lights, the doping of drink and a vision of the same where a waiter talks to dancer, and the placing of explosives by a car. [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Camille</i> (1917 film) 1917 film by J. Gordon Edwards

Camille is a 1917 American silent film based on the play adaptation of La Dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas, fils, first published in French as a novel in 1848 and as a play in 1852. Adapted for the screen by Adrian Johnson, Camille was directed by J. Gordon Edwards and starred Theda Bara as Camille and Albert Roscoe as her lover, Armand.

Back Stage is a 1917 American short comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy.

<i>The Hero</i> (1917 film) 1917 film

The Hero is a 1917 American silent one-reeler comedy film stariing Billy West and featuring Oliver Hardy. The film is viewable free of charge on YouTube.

The Lion's Claws is a 1918 American adventure film serial directed by Harry Harvey and Jacques Jaccard and starring Marie Walcamp and Ray Hanford. The serial, which had 18 chapters, is considered to be a lost film.

The Empty Gun is a 1917 American silent Western film directed by Joe De Grasse and featuring Lon Chaney and Claire McDowell. It was distributed by Universal Pictures. The film was reissued theatrically on April 29, 1921. This was the last short film Chaney made; every film he made after this was a full-length feature. A still exists showing Lon Chaney in the role of Frank, which see.

<i>Amarilly of Clothes-Line Alley</i> 1918 film directed by Marshall Neilan

Amarilly of Clothes-Line Alley is a 1918 American silent romantic comedy film starring Mary Pickford that was directed by Marshall Neilan and written by Frances Marion based upon a novel by Belle K. Maniates.

<i>Rose of the Alley</i> 1916 film by Charles Horan

Rose of the Alley is a 1916 silent crime drama film directed by Charles Horan and starring Mary Miles Minter.

<i>Her Countrys Call</i> 1917 American film

Her Country's Call is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Lloyd Ingraham and starring Mary Miles Minter, along with George Periolat and Allan Forrest. The film is the final instalment in a series a films written by Abraham Lincoln impersonator Benjamin Chapin, who also appeared in the film as Lincoln. It was one of many films of the time that catered to the vogue for patriotic pictures after America joined World War 1, with ample shots of soldiers and the American flag. As with many of Minter's features, it is thought to be a lost film.

<i>Thais</i> (1917 American film) 1917 American film

Thais is a 1917 American silent drama film produced by Samuel Goldwyn, and based on the 1890 novel Thaïs by Anatole France. This film featured opera prima donna Mary Garden, making her film debut at the then-lavish weekly salary of US$15,000. Other cast members include Lionel Adams, Crauford Kent, and Charles Trowbridge. This film is considered "one of the most colossal flops in movie history, both artistically and financially".

<i>Big Timber</i> (1917 film) 1917 film

Big Timber is a 1917 American silent film Northwoods/drama produced by the Oliver Morosco Company and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by William Desmond Taylor and starred Kathlyn Williams and Wallace Reid. It is not known whether the film currently survives, and it may be a lost film.

<i>The Mysterious Miss Terry</i> 1917 American film

The Mysterious Miss Terry is a 1917 American silent drama film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed through Paramount Pictures. The film stars Billie Burke, who at the time was a famous stage actress, married to Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr. This particular story was adapted special to the screen for Burke by writer Gelett Burgess. It is a lost film.

<i>Mary Moreland</i> 1917 American film

Mary Moreland is a 1917 American silent drama film starring stage actress Marjorie Rambeau that was released through Mutual Film. It is a lost film.

<i>Baby Mine</i> (1917 film) 1917 film by John S. Robertson, Hugo Ballin

Baby Mine is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by both John S. Robertson and Hugo Ballin and starring Madge Kennedy. The picture marked Kennedy's screen debut and was one of the first films produced by Samuel Goldwyn as an independent after founding his own studio.

<i>The Love That Lives</i> 1917 American film

The Love That Lives is a 1917 American silent drama film produced by Famous Players Film Company and distributed through Paramount Pictures. The film stars Pauline Frederick and was directed by Robert G. Vignola. The film is based on the story "Flames of Sacrifice", by Scudder Middleton.

The Clodhopper is a 1917 American comedy drama film from Kay Bee Pictures starring Charles Ray and Margery Wilson and directed by Victor Schertzinger.

The Little Boy Scout is a lost 1917 American silent drama film produced by Famous Players Film Company and released by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Francis J. Grandon and starred Ann Pennington. The motion picture was also known as “The Little Soldier Girl”

<i>Selfish Yates</i> 1918 film

Selfish Yates is a 1918 American silent Western film starring William S. Hart. It was directed by and co-produced by Hart along with Thomas H. Ince. Paramount Pictures handled distribution.

Sapho is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Hugh Ford and written by Hugh Ford and Doty Hobart. The film stars Pauline Frederick, Frank Losee, John St. Polis, Pedro de Cordoba, and Thomas Meighan. It is based on the novel Sapho by Alphonse Daudet. The film was released on March 11, 1917, by Paramount Pictures. It is not known whether the film currently survives.

<i>His Mothers Boy</i> 1917 American film

His Mother's Boy is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Victor Schertzinger and written by Ella Stuart Carson. The film stars Charles Ray, Doris May, William Elmer, Josef Swickard, Jerome Storm, and Gertrude Claire. It is based on the short story "Where Life is Marked Down" by Rupert Hughes. The film was released on December 24, 1917, by Paramount Pictures.

Mountain Dew is a lost 1917 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Thomas N. Heffron and starring Margery Wilson. It was produced and distributed by the Triangle Film Corporation.

References

  1. "Progressive Silent Film List: An Even Break (1917)". silentera.com. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
  2. "Reviews: Olive Thomas in An Even Break". Exhibitors Herald. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. 5 (7): 25–26. 11 August 1917. Retrieved 2014-11-29.
  3. "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. 5 (9): 33. 25 August 1917.