Over the Hill to the Poorhouse

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Over the Hill to the Poorhouse
Over the Hill to the Poorhouse (1920).jpg
Film still with Carr and her children
Directed by Harry Millarde
Written byPaul H. Sloane (scenario)
Based onpoems "Over the Hill to the Poorhouse" and "Over the Hill from the Poorhouse"
by Will Carleton
Produced by William Fox
Starring Mary Carr
CinematographyHal Sintzenich
George Schneiderman
Music byEdgar Allen
Maurie Rubens
Lou Klein (lyrics)
Distributed by Fox Film Corporation
Release date
  • September 17, 1920 (1920-09-17)
Running time
11 reels
CountryUnited States
Language Silent (English intertitles)
Budget$50,000 [1]
Box office$2.5 million [1]

Over the Hill to the Poorhouse, also known as Over the Hill, is a 1920 American silent drama film about a woman who has a lot of children, and who never gets the chance to enjoy life. The film starred actress Mary Carr and almost all of her real-life children. [2]

Contents

The film was directed by Harry Millarde, released by Fox Film Corporation, and was a box office success in 1920.

The story was previously filmed as Over the Hill to the Poorhouse (1908), starring Florence Auer. It was remade as Over the Hill (1931), starring Mae Marsh, and as Tears of a Mother (1937). The 1920 silent film is preserved at Bois d'Arcy in France. [3] [4]

The film cost $50,000 to make with an additional $200,000 in marketing. [1]

Plot

Selfless Ma Benton slaves for her six children in spite of her shiftless husband. It is the black sheep, John, who shines twenty years later when he saves his mother's pride by taking the blame for a crime his father committed. After leaving prison and making his fortune, John sends money for his mother to his brother, Isaac, who then steals it. Ma Benton is relegated to living in the poorhouse. Returning to punish Isaac, John restores the homestead and redeems himself.

Cast

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Big Picture Costs and Road Show Profits". Variety. March 18, 1925. p. 27. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. ↑ The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: Over the Hill to the Poorhouse
  3. ↑ Progressive Silent Film List: Over the Hill to the Poorhouse at silentera.com
  4. ↑ The Library of Congress Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Over the Hill to the Poorhouse


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