Peacock Alley (1922 film)

Last updated

Peacock Alley
Peacock Alley poster.jpg
Poster
Directed by Robert Z. Leonard
Written by Edmund Goulding
Fanny Hatton (titles)
Frederic Hatton (titles)
Story by Ouida Bergère
Produced byRobert Z. Leonard
Starring Mae Murray
Monte Blue
Cinematography Oliver T. Marsh
Production
company
Distributed by Metro Pictures
Release date
  • January 23, 1922 (1922-01-23)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited States
Language Silent (English intertitles)

Peacock Alley is a 1922 American silent drama film starring Monte Blue and Mae Murray. The film was directed by Murray's husband at the time, Robert Z. Leonard. [1] Set design for the film was done by Charles Cadwallader. The film premiered on November 9, 1921 at the Hotel Commodore in New York City. [2]

Contents

Lobby card Peacock Alley lobby card.jpg
Lobby card

Plot

As described in a film magazine, [3] the board of directors for the main manufacturing company in the American village of Harmonville send young Elmer Harmon (Blue) to Paris to obtain a contract with the French government. In Paris Elmer meets the dancer Cleo of Paris (Murray), who casts aside her rich, would-be sweethearts and falls in love with him. When his business affairs appear hopeless, she helps him secure his contract, and the couple are married and return to Harmonville. A gala is given in Elmer's honor for having saved the village's prosperity, and citizens are shocked by Cleo's Parisian fashion. Elmer sells his interests and the couple move to New York City. To give Cleo the luxuries to which she is accustomed, Elmer in a moment of weakness forges his uncle's name and is arrested. Endeavoring to get Elmer out of trouble, Cleo returns to the stage, but in so doing she breaks a promise made to her husband. Elmer is released from jail after promising his uncle to have nothing more to do with Cleo, but then immediately tries to look her up. He finds her in what appears to be a compromising but innocent situation and decides the bad things that have been said about Cleo are true. He returns to Harmonville and the heartbroken Cleo returns to France and seeks seclusion in Normandy. Three years later Elmer finds Cleo there along with her little son who is named for him. They have a reconciliation.

Cast

Reception

The film was one of Murray's most successful films, and one of the biggest hits of 1922. The film was so successful it was the only silent film of Murray's that she remade as the "talkie" Peacock Alley , though major changes were made to the plot.

The character "Cleo of Paris" was a parody of Cléo de Mérode. Upon learning of the film and its portrayal of her as a courtesan, de Mérode was unhappy about the portrayal, stating, "I lead and have always led the quietest of lives, I do not seek any publicity, and I really do not wish to be given any against my will, especially that sort of publicity." [4] She went on to attempt to sue the filmmakers for 100,000 francs in damages, alleging that the film injured her reputation and was defamatory. The case was unsuccessful. [5] [6]

Preservation

With no prints of Peacock Alley located in any film archives, it is considered a lost film. [7] In February of 2021, the film was cited by the National Film Preservation Board on their Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films list. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mae Murray</span> Actress, dancer, film producer, screenwriter (1885–1965)

Mae Murray was an American actress, dancer, film producer, and screenwriter. Murray rose to fame during the silent film era and was known as "The Girl with the Bee-Stung Lips" and "The Gardenia of the Screen".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cléo de Mérode</span> French dancer (1875–1966)

Cléopâtre-Diane de Mérode was a French dancer of the Belle Époque. She has been referred to as the "first real celebrity icon" and the "first modern celebrity". She was also the first woman whose photographic image, due in particular to photographers Nadar and Léopold-Émile Reutlinger, was distributed worldwide.

<i>Show People</i> 1928 film by King Vidor

Show People is a 1928 American synchronized sound comedy film directed by King Vidor. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using both the sound-on-disc and sound-on-film process. The film was a starring vehicle for actress Marion Davies and actor William Haines and included notable cameo appearances by many of the film personalities of the day, including stars Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, William S. Hart and John Gilbert, and writer Elinor Glyn. Vidor also appears in a cameo as himself, as does Davies.

<i>The Delicious Little Devil</i> 1919 film by Robert Zigler Leonard

The Delicious Little Devil is a 1919 American silent comedy-drama film starring Mae Murray and Rudolph Valentino. A 35 mm print of the film is housed at the EYE Film Instituut Nederland, Nederlands Filmmuseum.

<i>Spite Marriage</i> 1929 film

Spite Marriage is a 1929 American silent comedy film co-directed by Buster Keaton and Edward Sedgwick and starring Keaton and Dorothy Sebastian. It is the second film Keaton made for MGM and his last silent film, although he had wanted it to be a "talkie" or full sound film. While the production has no recorded dialogue, it does feature an accompanying synchronized score and recorded laughter, applause and other sound effects in some scenes. Keaton later wrote gags for some up-and-coming MGM stars like Red Skelton, and from this film recycled many gags, some shot-for-shot, for Skelton's 1943 film I Dood It.

<i>True as Steel</i> (film) 1924 film by Rupert Hughes

True As Steel is a 1924 American silent drama film directed and written by Rupert Hughes which stars Aileen Pringle and Huntley Gordon. The film is about a married businesswoman who has an affair with a married colleague.

<i>The Masked Bride</i> 1925 film

The Masked Bride is a 1925 American silent romantic drama film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Mae Murray, Francis X. Bushman, and Basil Rathbone. It is currently a lost film.

<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>Peacock Alley</i> (1930 film) 1930 film

Peacock Alley is a 1930 American pre-Code musical romantic drama film directed by Marcel de Sano, and starring Mae Murray and George Barraud. The film is a remake of the 1922 silent film of the same name in which Murray also stars. Aside from Murray being cast in the lead, the remake was largely different from the 1922 silent film. While Murray's character in the 1922 film was named Cleo, she was renamed Claire Tree in this film. George Barraud replaced Monte Blue as the male lead, who is now named Clayton Stoddard.

<i>Fascination</i> (1922 film) 1922 film

Fascination is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring his then wife Mae Murray. The film is based on an original story by Edmund Goulding who was soon to be a prolific film director.

<i>Men</i> (1924 film) 1924 film by Dimitri Buchowetzki

Men is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Dimitri Buchowetzki and starring Pola Negri that was produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures.

The Bride's Awakening is a 1918 American silent drama film released by Universal Pictures and produced by their Bluebird production unit. Robert Z. Leonard directed the film and his then-wife Mae Murray was the star. A print of the film is housed at the EYE Institute Nederlands.

<i>Wolves of the Rail</i> 1918 film

Wolves of the Rail is a 1918 American silent Western film produced, directed by, and starring William S. Hart. Thomas H. Ince assisted Hart in supervising the production.

Face Value is a 1918 American silent drama film starring Mae Murray and directed by Robert Z. Leonard. It was released by Universal Film and produced by their second tier production unit Bluebird.

<i>Putting It Over</i> 1919 lost silent film comedy directed by Donald Crisp

Putting It Over is a lost 1919 American silent comedy film directed by Donald Crisp and starring Bryant Washburn. The film was produced by Famous Players–Lasky with distribution being handled by Paramount Pictures.

<i>The Law and the Woman</i> 1922 film by Penrhyn Stanlaws

The Law and the Woman is a lost 1922 American silent drama film directed by Penrhyn Stanlaws and starring Betty Compson. This film is a version of Clyde Fitch's play The Woman in the Case and a remake of a 1916 silent version The Woman in the Case starring Pauline Frederick. Jesse Lasky produced.

<i>The Amateur Wife</i> 1920 film by Edward Dillon

The Amateur Wife is a 1920 American silent comedy-drama romance directed by Edward Dillon and written by Nalbro Bartley and Jane Murfin. The film stars Irene Castle, William P. Carleton, Arthur Rankin, S.J. Warrington, Alex Saskins and Augusta Anderson. The film was released on February 22, 1920, by Paramount Pictures.

<i>The Prince Chap</i> 1920 film by William C. deMille

The Prince Chap is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by William C. deMille and written by Olga Printzlau based upon the play of the same name by Edward Peple. The film stars Thomas Meighan, Charles Ogle, Kathlyn Williams, Casson Ferguson, Ann Forrest, Peaches Jackson, and Mae Giraci. The film was released in August 1920, by Paramount Pictures.

<i>The Gilded Lily</i> (1921 film) 1921 film by Robert Zigler Leonard

The Gilded Lily is a surviving 1921 American silent drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and written by Clara Beranger and Tom McNamara. The film stars Mae Murray, Lowell Sherman, Jason Robards, Sr., Charles K. Gerrard, and Leonora von Ottinger. The film was released on March 6, 1921, by Paramount Pictures.

<i>Fashion Row</i> 1923 silent film by Robert Z. Leonard

Fashion Row is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Mae Murray in a dual role, Earle Foxe, and Freeman Wood. The film involves two Russian sisters emigrate to America. One tries to hide her peasant origins and rises in high society, while the other remains closer to her roots.

References

  1. Ankerich, Michael G. (2012). Mae Murray: The Girl with the Bee-Stung Lips. University Press of Kentucky. p. 329. ISBN   978-0-813-14038-4.
  2. "Peacock Alley". afi.com. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  3. "Reviews: Peacock Alley". Exhibitors Herald. 13 (22). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 50. November 26, 1921.
  4. Garval, Michael (October 10, 2012). Cléo de Mérode and the Rise of Modern Celebrity Culture. Routledge. p. 186. ISBN   9781409406037.
  5. Garval, Michael D. (2012). "The New York Times Index". The New York Times Index, Volume 11, Issue 4. No. October-December 1923. ISBN   9781409406037 . Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  6. Garval, Michael D. (2012). Cléo de Mérode and the Rise of Modern Celebrity Culture. Ashgate Pub. Company. p. 174. ISBN   9781409406037 via Google Books.
  7. "American Silent Feature Film Database: Peacock Alley". Library of Congress. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  8. "7,200 Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films (1912-29)" (PDF). National Film Preservation Board. Retrieved April 28, 2024.