Tangled Hearts

Last updated

Tangled Hearts
TangledHearts-scene-april1916-magazine.jpg
Scene from the film
Directed by Joe De Grasse
Written by Ida May Park (screenplay)
Produced byBluebird Film Co.
Starring Lon Chaney
Louise Lovely
Music byM. Winkler
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date
  • April 2, 1916 (1916-04-02)
Running time
5 reels (50 minutes)
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent with English intertitles

Tangled Hearts is a 1916 silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse, written by Ida May Park, and starring Lon Chaney and Louise Lovely. [1] A small fragment (around 2 minutes) of the film survives in a private collection. A still exists showing Chaney in the role of John Hammond, menacing his wife Enid with a pistol. [2]

Contents

Plot

Montgomery Seaton is a rich social parasite who badly neglects his wife Lucille. Enid Hammond is married to John Hammond (Lon Chaney), but she is also Montgomery Seaton's sweetheart. Enid tells Seaton that many years ago, she ran away with a man named John Dalton, only to discover that he was married. She left Dalton and returned home, later marrying John Hammond but not realizing at the time that she was pregnant with Dalton's child. Fortunately, Enid was able to wait until her husband was away on a business trip before giving birth. Not wanting her husband to know she had an illegitimate child, Enid gave the baby to a nurse who raised the little girl. But now she has discovered that the nurse has passed away, and Enid needs to find a home for the girl.

Seaton lies for Enid, telling John Hammond that he had an illegitimate child years ago and that he is trying to find a home for the child. Enid convinces her husband that they should adopt the child. Now having custody of what is actually her own child, Enid writes Seaton to tell him that the child arrived safely, but John Hammond accidentally gets the note and assumes Seaton is the father and Enid is the mother of the little girl, driving him to a rage.

That night at a reception, John Hammond sees his wife and Mr. Seaton engaged in a secretive conversation and he draws a pistol in anger. Enid throws herself in front of Seaton and is shot. Lucille had earlier seen her husband bringing the child to Enid's house and suspects an affair of some sort is going on. The rich widow Vera Lane is friends with all of these people and, understanding the whole story that has transpired, takes it upon herself to straighten out all of the entanglements. Enid tells her forgiving husband the truth, and Montgomery Seaton is reunited with his wife Lucille.

Cast

Reception

"This is an offering which will interest and hold quite well because the story has some truly tangled situations. As it stands, it will get over, but it falls considerably short of being big." --- Wid's Film Daily [3]

"Stronger pictures with more interesting, if not more intricate, plots have appeared on this program, but to compensate for any weaknesses in the story there is this most engaging triple alliance. While the three actresses dominate the production, the performances of Lon Chaney and Hayward Mack are not wanting in force." ---Moving Picture World

"If the author had not been carried away with the dramatic possibilities of the theme, Tangled Hearts would have worked itself into a very good comedy. The possibilities in this direction were entirely overlooked." --- Variety [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>West of Zanzibar</i> (1928 film) 1928 film by Tod Browning

West of Zanzibar is a 1928 American synchronized sound film directed by Tod Browning. 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 screenplay concerns a vengeful stage magician named Phroso who becomes paralyzed in a brawl with a rival. The supporting cast includes Mary Nolan and Warner Baxter. The screenplay was written by Elliott J. Clawson, based on the 1926 play Kongo by Charles de Vonde and Kilbourn Gordon. Walter Huston starred in the stage play and later played Phroso again in the 1932 sound film remake of the same story which was also called Kongo.

The Forbidden Room is a 1914 American silent drama film directed by Allan Dwan and featuring Murdock MacQuarrie, Pauline Bush and Lon Chaney. The film's working title was originally The Web of Circumstance. The film is now considered to be lost.

<i>The Pipes o Pan</i> 1914 film

The Pipes o' Pan is a 1914 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and featuring Lon Chaney and Pauline Bush. It is thought the screenplay was written by De Grasse's wife Ida May Park, but she was uncredited. The film is now considered to be lost.

The Sin of Olga Brandt is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and featuring Lon Chaney and Pauline Bush. Jon Mirsalis claims the film was written by Ida May Park and that "some sources suggest that the film, which preaches about the high morality of moving pictures, was instigated by (producer) Carl Laemmle, who was involved in censorship fights of his own over some of his releases".

When the Gods Played a Badger Game is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and written by Ida May Park, and featuring Pauline Bush and Lon Chaney. The film's working title was The Girl Who Couldn't Go Wrong. The film is today considered lost.

<i>Where the Forest Ends</i> 1915 film

Where the Forest Ends is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and featuring Lon Chaney and Pauline Bush. De Grasse also acted in this film as well, playing "Silent Jordan". The film was written by Ida May Park, based on a story by Olga Printzlau. The film is today considered to be lost. A still from the film can be seen online.

The Trust is a 1915 American short silent drama film directed by Lon Chaney and written by Katherine M. Kingsherry. It starred Lon Chaney and Vera Sisson. The film was also called The Truce in some magazine reviews. The film is today considered to be lost. A still exists showing Chaney as Jim Mason, hanging out in a bar with his criminal associates.

<i>Alas and Alack</i> 1915 film

Alas and Alack is a 1915 American silent drama short film directed by Joe De Grasse and featuring Lon Chaney and Cleo Madison. An incomplete print of the film survives in the BFI National Archive.

The Millionaire Paupers is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse, written by Ida May Park and featuring Lon Chaney and Grace Thompson. The film's working title was Fate's a Fiddler. Actress Olive Carey was advertised in an early promo piece, but apparently did not appear in the finished film. Only a fragment of the film survives in a private collection, having been discovered in the early 1990s.

Father and the Boys is a 1915 American silent comedy film directed by Joe De Grasse, written by Ida May Park, and co-starring Lon Chaney and Digby Bell. It is based on a popular 1908 Broadway play produced by Charles Frohman, called Father and the Boys by George Ade. This was Louise Lovely's American film debut after emigrating from Australia. She made a total of 8 films with Chaney during this time period.

Stronger Than Death is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse, written by Bess Meredyth, and featuring Lon Chaney and Arthur Shirley. The film is notable for featuring two expatriate Australian actors together in the cast, Louise Lovely and Arthur Shirley. This was Louise Lovely's first American film - indeed it was the first time the actor, whose real name was Louise Carbasse, was credited as "Louise Lovely". The stage name was given to her by Carl Laemmle. Chaney had a relatively small role in this film as the attorney.

Dolly's Scoop is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and featuring Lon Chaney. It was written by Ida May Park, based on a story by Hugh Weir. This was one of the few silent films that subtitled the actors' dialogue at the bottom of the screen, instead of using title cards. Also, this was one of the only Lon Chaney films in which Chaney wound up getting the girl at the end of the picture. A still exists showing Lon Chaney in the role of the reporter, Dan Fisher.

The Grip of Jealousy is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse, written by Ida May Park and starring Lon Chaney and Louise Lovely. It was based upon Ida May Park's story "Love Thine Enemy". The film is today considered lost. Two still exist showing Lon Chaney in somewhat different make-ups, one as the character Silas Lacey, and the other as an older version of him

<i>The Gilded Spider</i> 1916 film

The Gilded Spider is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse, written by Ida May Park and starring Lon Chaney and Louise Lovely. A print exists in the Museo del Cine Pablo C. Ducros Hicken film archive.

<i>The Grasp of Greed</i> 1916 film

The Grasp of Greed is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse, written by Ida May Park, and starring Lon Chaney and Louise Lovely. The screenplay was adapted from an 1888 H. Rider Haggard story called "Mr. Meeson's Will". The film was released in England as Mr. Meeson's Will. The plot concerns a marooned man's will tattooed on the back of a woman. Chaney had a relatively small part in the film, but in one scene, he does a few dance steps, which show off his grace and agility.

<i>The Mark of Cain</i> (1916 film) 1916 film

The Mark of Cain is a 1916 American silent lost film directed by Joe De Grasse, written by Stuart Paton, and starring Lon Chaney and Dorothy Phillips. The film's tagline was "A Thrilling Drama of the Long Arm of the Law With an Absorbing Love Interest". The film's working title was By Fate's Decree.

<i>The Place Beyond the Winds</i> 1916 film

The Place Beyond the Winds is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse, and starring Lon Chaney, Gretchen Lederer and Dorothy Phillips. It was written by Ida May Park, based on the novel by Harriet T. Comstock. The director De Grasse also played a role in the film. The film's original working title was Mansion of Despair. A still exists showing Chaney in the role of Jerry Jo, the homeless man.

<i>The Pipers Price</i> 1917 film

The Piper's Price is a 1917 silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and starring Lon Chaney, William Stowell and Dorothy Phillips. It was the first in a series of films co-starring William Stowell and Dorothy Phillips together. The screenplay was written by Ida May Park, based on the short story by Nancy Mann Waddel Woodrow. The film was released in the U.K. as Storm and Sunshine. The film is today considered lost. A still exists showing Lon Chaney in the role of Billy Kilmartin.

<i>A Dolls House</i> (1917 film) 1917 film

A Doll's House is a 1917 American silent drama film based on the eponymous 1879 play by Henrik Ibsen. The film was written and directed by Joe De Grasse, and stars Lon Chaney, William Stowell and Dorothy Phillips. Film historian Jon C. Mirsalis stated that director De Grasse's wife Ida May Park wrote the screenplay, but most sources attribute both the writing and directing of the film to De Grasse himself. The film is today considered lost.

<i>Fires of Rebellion</i> 1917 film

Fires of Rebellion is a 1917 American silent drama film written and directed by Ida May Park, and starring Lon Chaney, William Stowell, and Dorothy Phillips. The film is today considered lost. A still exists showing Lon Chaney in the role of the lecherous photographer Russell Hanlon. The film's main musical theme was Serenade by R. Czerwonky.

References

  1. ↑ "Silent Era: Tangled Hearts". silentera. Retrieved June 24, 2008.
  2. ↑ Mirsalis, Jon C. "Tangled Hearts". Lonchaney.org. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  3. ↑ Blake, Michael F. (1998). "The Films of Lon Chaney". Vestal Press Inc. Page 61. ISBN   1-879511-26-6.
  4. ↑ Mirsalis, Jon C. "Tangled Hearts". Lonchaney.org. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.