The Case of Becky (1915 film)

Last updated
The Case of Becky
Directed by Frank Reicher
Screenplay by David Belasco (play)
Edward Locke (play)
Margaret Turnbull
Produced byDavid Belasco
Jesse L. Lasky
Starring Blanche Sweet
Theodore Roberts
James Neill
Carlyle Blackwell
Jane Wolfe
Gertrude Kellar
Cinematography Walter Stradling
Production
company
Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date
  • September 13, 1915 (1915-09-13)
Running time
5 reels
CountryUnited States
Language Silent (English intertitles)

The Case of Becky is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by Frank Reicher. It was adapted by Margaret Turnbull from the 1912 play of the same name by David Belasco and Edward Locke. The film stars Blanche Sweet, Theodore Roberts, James Neill, Carlyle Blackwell, Jane Wolfe, and Gertrude Kellar. The film was released on September 13, 1915, by Paramount Pictures. [1] [2] The film was later remade in 1921 under the same title.

Contents

Plot

Dorothy, victim of the influence that the hypnotist Balzamo has on her, the man who raised her, develops a second personality with a malevolent character named Becky. When Balzamo tries to win the girl, she runs away. Meanwhile, Dr. Emerson, a specialist in nerve diseases, encourages Dr. John Arnold to use his hypnotic powers to heal the sick and tells him that those powers are dangerous because his wife had been the victim of a hypnotist years earlier, who l 'had kidnapped. After the woman's death, all traces of her little girl had been lost.

Dorothy, after her escape, looks for jobs to live on. But when she finds them, Becky's personality re-emerges and makes her lose them. When Dorothy becomes friends with Dr. Emerson's sister, she transforms into Becky and the doctor diagnoses her with a case of split personality. Arnold, who has fallen in love with Dorothy, is ready to "kill" Becky, but suddenly Balzamo reappears trying to regain control of the young woman. A mental struggle arises between Balzamo and Arnold which has the doctor as its winner: Balzamo is forced to confess that Dorothy is Emerson's daughter. Having lost his powers, Balzamo goes away. Dorothy is now free to love Arnold.

Cast

Preservation status

A copy is held at the Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio-Visual Conservation. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Judith of Bethulia</i> 1914 film

Judith of Bethulia (1914) is an American film starring Blanche Sweet and Henry B. Walthall, and produced and directed by D. W. Griffith, based on the play "Judith and the Holofernes" (1896) by Thomas Bailey Aldrich, which itself was an adaptation of the Book of Judith. The film was the first feature-length film made by pioneering film company Biograph, although the second that Biograph released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlyle Blackwell</span> American silent film actor, director, and producer (1884–1955)

Carlyle Blackwell was an American silent film actor, director and producer.

<i>The Warrens of Virginia</i> (1915 film) 1915 film

The Warrens of Virginia is a 1915 American drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. Prints of the film survive at the George Eastman House Motion Picture Collection.

<i>The Unafraid</i> 1915 film

The Unafraid is a 1915 American drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. Extant at George Eastman House. Rita Jolivet completed this film just before boarding the Lusitania on its final voyage. The film survives and is preserved in the film archive at George Eastman House.

<i>The Captive</i> (1915 film) 1915 film

The Captive is an American silent-era film released on April 22, 1915. It was released on five reels. The film was written, directed, edited, and produced by Cecil B. DeMille. Jesse L. Lasky was another producer and Jeanie MacPherson worked with DeMille to write the screenplay. The film is based on a play written by Cecil B. DeMille and Jeanie MacPherson. The Captive grossed over $56,000 on a budget of $12,154. Blanche Sweet stars as Sonia Martinovich, alongside House Peters who stars as Mahmud Hassan. The film details the romantic war-era plight of Sonia and her lover Mahmud.

The Day After is a 1909 American short silent drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Blanche Sweet. A print of the film survives in the film archive of the Library of Congress.

<i>The Case of Becky</i> 1921 film

The Case of Becky is a 1921 American silent drama film based on a successful 1912 play written by David Belasco and Edward J. Locke, The Case of Becky. Belasco also produced the play, which starred his muse, Frances Starr.

<i>The Governors Lady</i> (1915 film) 1915 film by George Melford

The Governor's Lady is a surviving 1915 American drama silent film directed by George Melford and written by William C. deMille based on the 1912 play The Governor's Lady by Alice Bradley.

<i>The Woman</i> (1915 film) 1915 film by George Melford

The Woman is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by George Melford and starring Theodore Roberts, James Neill, Ernest Joy, Raymond Hatton, Mabel Van Buren, and Tom Forman. Based on a play by William C. deMille, the film was released on May 3, 1915, by Paramount Pictures.

<i>Stolen Goods</i> (film) 1915 film by George Melford

Stolen Goods is a lost 1915 American drama silent film directed by George Melford and written by Margaret Turnbull. The film stars Blanche Sweet, Cleo Ridgely, House Peters, Sr., Horace B. Carpenter, Sydney Deane and Theodore Roberts. The film was released on May 24, 1915, by Paramount Pictures.

The Clue is a lost 1915 American drama silent film directed by James Neill and Frank Reicher and written by Margaret Turnbull. The film stars Blanche Sweet, Gertrude Kellar, Edward MacKay, Sessue Hayakawa, Page Peters and Ernest Joy. The film was released on July 8, 1915, by Paramount Pictures.

<i>The Puppet Crown</i> 1915 film by George Melford

The Puppet Crown is a 1915 American drama silent film directed by George Melford and written by Harold MacGrath and William C. deMille. The film stars Ina Claire, Carlyle Blackwell, Chris Lynton, Cleo Ridgely, Horace B. Carpenter and John Abraham. The film was released on July 29, 1915, by Paramount Pictures.

The Secret Orchard is a 1915 American drama silent film directed by Frank Reicher and written by Channing Pollock and William C. deMille. The film stars Cleo Ridgely, Blanche Sweet, Edward MacKay, Gertrude Kellar, Carlyle Blackwell and Theodore Roberts. The film was released on August 9, 1915, by Paramount Pictures.

<i>The Explorer</i> (film) 1915 film

The Explorer is a lost 1915 American adventure silent film directed by George Melford and written by W. Somerset Maugham and William C. deMille. The film stars Lou Tellegen, Tom Forman, Dorothy Davenport, James Neill and Horace B. Carpenter. The film was released on September 27, 1915, by Paramount Pictures.

<i>Mr. Grex of Monte Carlo</i> 1915 film

Mr. Grex of Monte Carlo is a surviving 1915 American drama silent film directed by Frank Reicher and written by Marion Fairfax and E. Phillips Oppenheim. The film stars Theodore Roberts, Dorothy Davenport, Carlyle Blackwell, James Neill, Horace B. Carpenter and Frank Elliott. The film was released on December 2, 1915, by Paramount Pictures. It is based on the novel of the same title by E. Phillips Oppenheim.

<i>Puddnhead Wilson</i> (film) 1916 film by Frank Reicher

Pudd'nhead Wilson is a 1916 American silent comedy film directed by Frank Reicher and written by Margaret Turnbull. The film stars Theodore Roberts, Alan Hale, Sr., Thomas Meighan, Florence Dagmar, Jane Wolfe, and Ernest Joy. The film was released on January 31, 1916, by Paramount Pictures.

<i>For the Defense</i> (1916 film) 1916 film by Frank Reicher

For the Defense is a surviving 1916 American drama silent film directed by Frank Reicher and written by Hector Turnbull and Margaret Turnbull. The film stars Fannie Ward, Jack Dean, Paul Byron, Horace B. Carpenter, Camille Astor and James Neill. The film was released on March 12, 1916, by Paramount Pictures.

<i>The Thousand-Dollar Husband</i> 1916 film by James Young

The Thousand-Dollar Husband is a lost 1916 American silent drama film written and directed by James Young and starring Blanche Sweet, Theodore Roberts, Tom Forman, James Neill, Horace B. Carpenter, and Lucille La Verne. The film was released on May 28, 1916, by Paramount Pictures.

<i>Arizona</i> (1913 film) 1913 film

Arizona is a 1913 American silent Western film directed by Augustus Thomas based on his 1899 play Arizona which on stage starred Vincent Serrano and Eleanor Robson. It is one of the first feature films made in the United States, alongside Cleopatra and Richard III. Cyril Scott plays the lead Lt. Denton.

<i>A Voice in the Dark</i> (film) 1921 film

A Voice in the Dark is a 1921 American black-and-white silent mystery film directed by Frank Lloyd and starring Ramsey Wallace, Irene Rich, and Alec B. Francis. The film is based on the play A Voice in the Dark by Ralph E. Dyar.

References

  1. Janiss Garza. "The-Case-of-Becky - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - NYTimes.com". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on December 24, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  2. "The Case of Becky (1915) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies . Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  3. The Library of Congress/FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Case of Becky Library of Congress Retrieved November 18, 2022.