Tess of the d'Urbervilles | |
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Directed by | Marshall Neilan |
Written by | Dorothy Farnum |
Based on | Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy |
Produced by | Louis B. Mayer |
Starring | Blanche Sweet Conrad Nagel Stuart Holmes |
Cinematography | David Kesson |
Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn |
Release date |
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Running time | 80 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
Tess of the d'Urbervilles is a 1924 American silent drama film starring Blanche Sweet and Conrad Nagel. [1] [2] It was directed by Sweet's husband, Marshall Neilan. The film is the second motion picture adaptation of the 1891 novel by Thomas Hardy, which had been turned into a very successful 1897 play starring Mrs. Fiske. [3] In 1913, Adolph Zukor enticed Mrs. Fiske to reprise her role in a film version which is now considered lost. The 1924 version is also considered lost. [4]
A young servant girl is seduced and raped by an older middle class man in Victorian England when employed in his household. After moving on with her path, she gets married. All is well until her husband discovers her past. This fact prompts her on a life of wandering, murder, and execution.
After the film was completed, Louis B. Mayer changed the tragic ending to a happy one, much to the annoyance of Neilan and Hardy. [5]
With no prints of Tess of the d'Urbervilles located in any film archives, [6] it is a lost film.
Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman is a novel by Thomas Hardy. It initially appeared in a censored and serialised version, published by the British illustrated newspaper The Graphic in 1891, then in book form in three volumes in 1891, and as a single volume in 1892. Although now considered a major novel of the 19th century, Tess of the d'Urbervilles received mixed reviews when it first appeared, in part because it challenged the sexual morals of late Victorian England.
Minnie Maddern Fiske, but often billed simply as Mrs. Fiske, was one of the leading American actresses of the late 19th and early 20th century. She also spearheaded the fight against the Theatrical Syndicate for the sake of artistic freedom. She was widely considered the most important actress on the American stage in the first quarter of the 20th century. Her performances in several Henrik Ibsen plays helped introduce American audiences to the Norwegian playwright.
John Conrad Nagel was an American film, stage, television and radio actor. He was considered a famous matinée idol and leading man of the 1920s and 1930s. He was given an Honorary Academy Award in 1940, and three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.
Sarah Blanche Sweet was an American silent film actress who began her career in the early days of the motion picture film industry.
Marshall Ambrose "Mickey" Neilan was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, whose work in films began in the early silent era.
Victory Bateman was an American silent film actress. Her father, Thomas Creese, and her mother, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Creese, were both actors. On stage, Ms. Bateman appeared in the 1900 tour of "The Man From Mexico" and in the 1919 tour of "Seven Days' Leave".
Lucille Ricksen was an American motion picture actress during the silent film era. She died of tuberculosis on March 13, 1925, at the age of 14.
Emily Stevens was a stage and screen actress in Broadway plays in the first three decades of the 20th century and later in silent films.
Babbitt is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Willard Louis, Mary Alden, and Carmel Myers. It is based on the 1922 novel of the same title by Sinclair Lewis, later also adapted into a 1934 sound film.
Tess of the D'Urbervilles is a 4-hour BBC television adaptation of Thomas Hardy's 1891 book of the same name. The script is by David Nicholls. It tells the story of Tess Durbeyfield, a low-born country girl whose family find they have noble connections.
Married Flirts is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Robert Vignola and starring Pauline Frederick, Mae Busch, and Conrad Nagel. The screenplay, written by Julia Ivers, is based on Louis Joseph Vance's 1923 best seller Mrs. Paramor. The drama was considered quite daring at the time as the story centered on husbands being lured away from their wives. One scene has well known Hollywood stars playing themselves at a party.
Tess is a 1979 drama film directed by Roman Polanski and starring Nastassja Kinski, Peter Firth, and Leigh Lawson. It is an adaptation of Thomas Hardy's 1891 novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles. The screenplay was written by Gérard Brach, John Brownjohn, and Roman Polanski. The film received positive critical reviews upon release and was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, winning three for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.
Give and Take is a 1928 American sound part-talkie comedy film directed by William Beaudine. It was Universal's second sound film.
The Enemy Sex is a 1924 American silent drama film starring Betty Compson and directed by her husband James Cruze. It was produced by Famous Players–Lasky and released by Paramount Pictures. It is taken from the 1914 novel The Salamander by Owen Johnson.
Tess of the d'Urbervilles is a 1913 American silent drama film based upon the Thomas Hardy 1891 novel of the same name and was one of the first feature films made. It was directed by J. Searle Dawley, released by Famous Players Film Company and stars Mrs. Fiske, reprising her famous role from the 1897 play. An Adolph Zukor feature production after securing the services of top American actress Mrs. Fiske.
Vanity Fair is a 1915 silent film drama directed by Eugene Nowland and Charles Brabin and starring Mrs. Fiske, a renowned Broadway stage actress. The Edison Company produced and released the film. Mrs. Fiske had starred in the 1899 hit Broadway play Becky Sharp based on William Thackeray's 1848 novel of the same name. Here she recreates the role for Edison's cameras. This film marks Mrs. Fiske's second feature film as she had starred in Tess of the d'Urbervilles for Adolph Zukor in 1913. Despite the popularity of Vanity Fair, Mrs. Fiske never made another motion picture.
Gertrude Bugler was a British stage actress of the Edwardian Era best known for acting in plays adapted by Thomas Hardy.
Justina Huff was an American actress of the silent film era.
Tess of the d'Urbervilles is an 1891 novel by Thomas Hardy.
Mark Antrim Short was an American stage and film actor, casting director and talent agent. As a juvenile he enjoyed some success on the Broadway stage, notably appearing as a boy with Mrs. Fiske and Holbrook Blinn in Salvation Nell by Edward Sheldon in 1908. While in his teens he appeared in silent films playing the kind of roles that were made popular by Jack Pickford.