The Auction Block (1917 film)

Last updated
The Auction Block
The Auction Block 1917 lanternslide.jpeg
Lantern slide
Directed by Laurence Trimble
Written byGil Spear (scenario)
Based onThe Auction Block
by Rex Beach
Produced byRex Beach
Starring Rubye De Remer
CinematographyDavid Calcagni
Production
company
Rex Beach Pictures Company
Distributed by Goldwyn Pictures
Release date
  • December 2, 1917 (1917-12-02)
Running time
70 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)
Still with Tom Powers, Rubye De Remer, and Florence Deshon The Auction Block (1917) - 1.jpg
Still with Tom Powers, Rubye De Remer, and Florence Deshon

The Auction Block is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Laurence Trimble and starring Rubye De Remer. The film was produced by Rex Beach, upon whose novel, The Auction Block, the film is based. [1] It is not known whether the film survives. [1] The film was remade as a comedy in 1926 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer starring Charles Ray and Eleanor Boardman. [2]

Contents

Plot

As described in a film magazine, [3] The parents of Lorelei Knight (De Remer) are anxious to make a small fortune off of her beauty. They send her to New York to become a member of a "girl show". Bob Wharton (Powers), the dissolute son of a millionaire, falls in love with the girl. When Lorelei learns that her father is ill and money is needed, she marries Bob although she does not love him. Bob's father (Burton) cuts off his allowance and Bob is forced to go to work. The wholesomeness of Lorelei kindles a desire in Bob to become a better man. He is getting along well when Lorelei's worthless brother leads Bob back to his old life. Lorelei is about to leave him when she is persuaded by Adoree Demorest (Johns), known as the wickedest woman in New York, and Campbell Pope (Joyner), a critic in love with Adoree, to stay. When Bob learns that he is going to be a father, he conquers his desire for drink. With the birth of their son, pleasant relations resume among Bob and Lorelei.

Cast

Reception

Like many American films of the time, The Auction Block was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors required, in Reel 1, a cut of a long gambling scene, the two intertitles "Since you want to go on the stage, Melcher will want to see more of you" and "True to Mercher's prediction, he did want to see more of Lilas", and all indications of the young woman posing including where she is shown undressing behind screens, her handing a man a kimono and his handing it back to her, view of nude painting in the background, and the incident of maid opening secret panel admitting man to buffet flat; Reel 2, two views of nude painting, the entire incident of second young woman posing before man, the intertitle "Animated by revenge, Lilas permitted Hammon to install her in the Elegancia Apartments", and man putting had suggestively on woman's bare shoulder; Reel 3, two views of man kissing woman on neck and the intertitle "Take him to Clover roadhouse" etc.; Reel 4, five intertitles "The little flashlight will cost you $20,000" etc., "Melcher accepted a check keeping the plate as security", "In the apartments below Lilas rejoices in Hammon's absence", "Here is hoping he stays away a month", and "Fill him up with booze and we will take him to New Jersey to get married", and closeup of roulette wheel; Reel 5, the three intertitles "Hammon returns unexpectedly", "Who has been here with her", and "You can't buy me off with a string of pearls", and the shooting of the man; the three intertitles "When you redeem yourself I'll be a real wife to you", "Tell him he better pay again or his baby will be born in jail", and "As the months roll by, Bob still lives apart from his wife"; Reel 7, passionate love scene between couple to where woman leaves man at door the first time, striking man with chair over his head, and policeman striking black man on head; and Reel 8, to flash the long gambling scene. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rubye De Remer</span> American actress

Rubye De Remer was an American dancer and actress in silent films. She began her stage career with the Midnight Frolic, a Florenz Ziegfeld show, in New York City.

<i>The Mystery Ship</i> 1917 film

The Mystery Ship is a 1917 American adventure film serial directed by Harry Harvey and Henry MacRae. The film is considered to be lost.

<i>The Brass Bullet</i> 1918 film

The Brass Bullet is a 1918 American silent adventure film serial directed by Ben F. Wilson. It is now considered to be a lost film.

<i>The Bulls Eye</i> (serial) 1917 film

The Bull's Eye is a 1917 American film serial directed by James W. Horne. It is now considered to be a lost film.

<i>The Hidden Hand</i> (serial) 1917 film

The Hidden Hand is a 1917 American film serial directed by James Vincent. This is a lost serial.

<i>The Seven Pearls</i> 1917 film

The Seven Pearls is a 1917 American silent action film serial directed by Louis J. Gasnier and Donald MacKenzie. Fragments are held by the Library of Congress.

<i>The Rose of Blood</i> 1917 film

The Rose of Blood is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by J. Gordon Edwards and starring Theda Bara. Based on the story "The Red Rose" by Ryszard Ordynski, the film was written by Bernard McConville. The Rose of Blood is now considered to be a lost film.

<i>The Secret of the Storm Country</i> 1917 American film

The Secret of the Storm Country was a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Charles Miller and starring Norma Talmadge. The film is described as not a direct sequel but a "continuation" of the 1914 film Tess of the Storm Country, starring Mary Pickford. The film is now considered lost.

<i>The Auction Block</i> 1926 film

The Auction Block is a 1926 American silent comedy film directed by Hobart Henley. The film stars Charles Ray and Eleanor Boardman. It is written by Fanny and Frederic Hatton and is based on the novel of the same name by Rex Beach.

<i>Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman</i> (1917 film) 1917 film by George Irving

Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman is a 1917 American silent film starring John Barrymore and Evelyn Brent. The movie also co-stars Frank Morgan and Mike Donlin, and was directed by George Irving. The film has been released on DVD.

<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".

The Man From Montana is a 1917 silent black and white film directed by George Marshall. It stars Neal Hart and George Berrell. It is not known whether the film currently survives, which suggests that it is a lost film. The film should not be confused with the 1941 film Man from Montana.

<i>The Savage</i> (1917 film) 1917 American film

The Savage is a 1917 American silent drama film starring Colleen Moore and Monroe Salisbury that is set in Canada and was directed by Rupert Julian. The film is presumed to be lost.

<i>The Serpents Tooth</i> (1917 film) 1917 American film

The Serpent's Tooth is a 1917 American silent drama film starring Gail Kane from the stage and released through the Mutual Film company. It is a lost film.

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

Exile is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Maurice Tourneur and written by Charles E. Whittaker based upon the 1916 Dolf Wyllarde novel. The film stars Olga Petrova, Wyndham Standing, Mahlon Hamilton, Warren Cook, Charles Martin, and Violet Reed. The film was released in September 1917, by Paramount Pictures. It is not known whether the film currently survives, which suggests that it is a lost film.

<i>The Hungry Heart</i> 1917 American film

The Hungry Heart is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Robert G. Vignola and written by Charles Maigne based upon the novel of the same name by David Graham Phillips. The film stars Pauline Frederick, Howard Hall, Robert Cain, Helen Lindroth, and Eldean Steuart. The film was released on November 5, 1917, by Paramount Pictures. It is not known whether the film currently survives, and it may be a lost film.

<i>The Fighting Trail</i> 1917 film

The Fighting Trail is a lost 1917 American silent Western serial film directed by and starring William Duncan. It was produced and distributed by the Vitagraph Company of America. It was released in 15 chapters.

<i>The Gun Woman</i> 1918 film

The Gun Woman is a 1918 American silent Western film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Texas Guinan. It was produced and distributed by the Triangle Film Corporation.

References

  1. 1 2 Progressive Silent Film List: The Auction Block at silentera.com
  2. ↑ Eames, John Douglas (1975). The MGM Story: The Complete History Of Fifty Roaring Years (3 ed.). Octopus Books. p. 24. ISBN   0-904230-14-7.
  3. ↑ "Reviews: The Auction Block". Exhibitors Herald. New York: Exhibitors Herald Company. 5 (24): 25. December 8, 1917.
  4. ↑ "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. 6 (1): 31. December 29, 1917.
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.