The Grand Passion

Last updated

The Grand Passion
The Grand Passion (1918) - 1.jpg
Trade advertisement
Directed by Ida May Park
Written byIda May Park
Based onThe Boss of Powderville
by Thomas Addison
Produced byJewel Productions
Starring Dorothy Phillips
Lon Chaney
Cinematography King D. Gray
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date
  • February 1, 1918 (1918-02-01)
Running time
7 reels (70 minutes)
CountryUnited States
Languages Silent
English intertitles

The Grand Passion is a 1918 American silent Western film directed by Ida May Park and starring Dorothy Phillips, Jack Mulhall, and Lon Chaney. Ida May Park also wrote the screenplay, based on a novel The Boss of Powderville by Thomas Addison. [1] The film was allegedly shown in some theaters under the title of The Boss of Powderville. [2]

Contents

Jack Mulhall later co-starred again with Lon Chaney in Danger - Go Slow (1918) and Flesh and Blood (1922). [3] Some sources claim the film's running time was closer to an hour, but we'll never know because it is considered a lost film. [1] A still from the film exists showing Lon Chaney being strangled by members of a mob. [2]

The distributor suggested a strange publicity stunt to advertise the film, explaining to exhibitors "Send an auto through the streets with a woman and two evil looking men; the woman should have her head muffled, and be forcibly restrained from jumping out. And on the back of the car have a sign, "For the reason for this abduction see THE GRAND PASSION at the ____________ theatre today.". [2]

Plot

Dick Evans (Stowell), the boss of Powderville, decides to start a newspaper called The Trumpet and support it through coerced advertising from all of the businesses in the town. He hires Jack Ripley (Mulhall), a New York newspaperman, to be its editor. Evan's sworn enemy is a man called Paul Argos (Lon Chaney). Argos' niece, Viola (Phillips), comes to Powderville to find her uncle and arrives on the same train as Jack Ripley.

Ripley saves her from being assaulted by a Chicago thug called Red Pete Jackson. Paul Argos thanks Ripley, but then learns that Ripley has come to town to work for his enemy, Dick Evans. After developing a romantic relationship with Viola, Dick Evans decides to follows Ripley's suggestion and use the power of his newspaper to clean up the criminal elements in the town and start a charity hospital. Unbeknowsnt to Evans, Ripley has also fallen in love with Viola.

Meanwhile, Viola has been kidnapped by Red Pete Jackson's gang and hidden away in Boston Kate's brothel on the other side of the tracks. Evans and Ripley team up and rescue her but, in so doing, they accidentally start a fire in the brothel and incur the wrath of the kidnappers. The criminals attack the town and set fire to the newspaper office and, in the face of defeat, Evans orders Ripley and Viola to leave him and escape before the fire reaches the town's ammunition dump. Evans is shot during the ensuing chaos, and Viola's uncle Paul Argos has his place of business destroyed in the fire and goes insane with fear.

Viola later leaves Ripley and returns to what remains of the burnt out town, where she discovers Evans has been fatally wounded. She declares her love for Evans, but he dies in her arms, telling her he loved her. [4]

Cast

Reception

"If gunplay, mob stuff and exceptional lightings were the principal ingredients of a motion picture, then THE GRAND PASSION...would rank with the highest, for these ingredients it has in great abundance. Unfortunately, however, these elements so profusely employed do not serve to tell a story clearly and straight-forwardly...Dorothy Phillips, William Stowell, Lon Chaney and Jack Mulhall do their best with roles that have not been properly characterized by the scenarist." --- Motion Picture News. [3]

"The picture is fairly riotous with action, and might be depressing except for the fact that there is so much humor scattered through it." ---Moving Picture World [2]

"It is much too long and the story extremely draggy...It needs most of all to be retitled and about 2,000 feet eliminated from the running." ---Variety [2]

Censorship cuts

Like many American films of the time, The Grand Passion was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors required cuts, in Reel 1, of Pete lunging at reporter with knife, women in background being pulled over the balustrade, two views of young women dancing on platform, Reel 2, two scenes of Pete throwing Paul across table, young women throwing arms around Dick's neck, Reel 3, view of dance hall as seen by young woman looking through widow, putting intoxicated woman into taxicab, Reel 4, shooting man through window, woman doing wiggle dance on platform, two intertitles "I've come for her to kill if she's been wronged" and "Shoot the word around", all scenes of young women in Boston Kate's house after the intertitle "Thank God, a woman" to include all scenes of Kate and her locking door, Reel 5, the intertitle "She's at Boston Kate's in the valley", two scenes of young woman in room looking at barred window, all scenes of man in hall and at young woman's door, two scenes of Viola at window in gown falling from shoulders, woman shooting Dick, printer shooting Pete, three scenes of women rushing down street, Reel 6, two scenes of women rushing down street, two dance hall scenes at beginning of reel, all scenes of women and men in automobile carrying torches to include the intertitle "To the jail, we'll turn Red Pete loose", all scenes of riot in street showing rioters shooting and people falling to include killing of boy, man falling at crossing and dragging the body away, and the intertitle "You're marked. Good-night for Red Pete." [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Old Wives for New</i> 1918 film

Old Wives for New is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. Prints of the film survive at the International Museum of Photography and Film at George Eastman House.

<i>Danger, Go Slow</i> 1918 film

Danger, Go Slow is a 1918 American silent comedy film directed by Robert Z. Leonard, and starring Mae Murray, Jack Mulhall and Lon Chaney. Robert Z. Leonard and Mae Murray co-wrote the screenplay together. The film is today considered lost.

<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 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>Hands Up</i> (serial) 1918 film

Hands Up is a lost 1918 American adventure film serial directed by Louis J. Gasnier and James W. Horne. The serial was Ruth Roland's breakthrough role.

<i>The House of Hate</i> 1918 film

The House of Hate is a 1918 American film serial directed by George B. Seitz, produced when many early film studios in America's first motion picture industry were based in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

<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>Hell Morgans Girl</i> 1917 film

Hell Morgan's Girl is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Joseph De Grasse, and starring William Stowell, Dorothy Phillips and Lon Chaney. The screenplay was written by Ida May Park, based on the Harvey Gates story entitled The Wrong Side of Paradise. The film's working title was The Wrong Side of Paradise. The film's tagline ran: "This is "Hell Morgan's Girl". You Doubt Her. You Accuse Her. You Pity Her. You Condemn Her. You Hate Her. You Love Her. SHE'S WONDERFUL!"

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.

<i>The Rescue</i> (1917 film) 1917 film

The Rescue is a 1917 American silent drama film written and directed by Ida May Park and starring Lon Chaney, William Stowell and Dorothy Phillips. The screenplay was based on a story by Hugh McNair Kahler. The film is today considered lost. A photo exists showing Lon Chaney in his role as Thomas Holland, a rare occasion when Chaney did not play a villain.

<i>Pay Me!</i> 1917 film

Pay Me! is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and starring Lon Chaney, Dorothy Phillips and William Stowell. In the United States, the film is also known as The Vengeance of the West. The screenplay was written by Bess Meredith, based on a story by Joe De Grasse. This film was Universal Pictures' first "Jewel Production" release. Once considered to be a lost film, an incomplete (23-minute) print was rediscovered in the Gosfilmofond archive in Russia in 2019. A still exists showing Lon Chaney in the role of the villainous Joe Lawson.

<i>Triumph</i> (1917 film) 1917 film

Triumph is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse, written by Fred Myton, starring Lon Chaney and Dorothy Phillips. The screenplay was adapted from a short story by Samuel Hopkins Adams. It was produced by Bluebird Photoplays and released by Universal Film Manufacturing Company. Only the first three of the five reels of this film survive, and the third reel is heavily decomposed. Two stills exist showing Lon Chaney as the terminally ill Paul Neihoff.

<i>Broadway Love</i> 1918 film

Broadway Love is a 1918 American silent romance film directed by Ida May Park and starring Dorothy Phillips, William Stowell, and Lon Chaney. It was written by Ida May Park, based on the novelette by W. Carey Wonderly.

<i>Riddle Gawne</i> 1918 film

Riddle Gawne is a 1918 American silent Western film directed by William S. Hart and Lambert Hillyer, and featuring William S. Hart, Katherine MacDonald and Lon Chaney. The film was co-produced by William S. Hart and Thomas H. Ince. The screenplay was written by Charles Alden Seltzer from his earlier novel The Vengeance of Jefferson Gawne. Chaney historian Jon C. Mirsalis claims that William S. Hart contributed greatly to the screenplay but all other sources credit the writing of the screenplay solely to Charles Alden Seltzer.

<i>The Talk of the Town</i> (1918 film) 1918 film

The Talk of the Town is a 1918 American silent comedy film directed by Allen Holubar and featuring Lon Chaney, William Stowell and Dorothy Phillips. The screenplay was written by Allen Holubar, based on the novelette "Discipline of Genevra" by Harold Vickers. Talk of the Town is considered a lost film.

<i>Flesh and Blood</i> (1922 film) 1922 film by Irving Cummings

Flesh and Blood is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Irving Cummings and starring Lon Chaney, Noah Beery, Edith Roberts and De Witt Jennings. The film originally had a color flashback scene with Chinese actors, but the color footage is no longer in any of the available prints. The film's working titles were Prison and Fires of Vengeance. Interior scenes were shot at Universal Studios.

<i>The Hell Cat</i> (1918 film) 1918 American film

The Hell Cat is a 1918 American silent Western film produced and distributed by Goldwyn Pictures. Reginald Barker directed and Geraldine Farrar starred. It is not known whether the film currently survives.

<i>Unclaimed Goods</i> 1918 film

Unclaimed Goods is a 1918 American silent Western comedy film directed by Rollin S. Sturgeon and written by Gardner Hunting and Johnston McCulley. The film stars Vivian Martin, Harrison Ford, Casson Ferguson, George A. McDaniel, Dick La Reno, and George Kunkel. The film was released on April 14, 1918, by Paramount Pictures. It is not known whether the film currently survives.

References

  1. 1 2 "Progressive Silent Film List: The Grand Passion". silentera.com. Retrieved June 26, 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Mirsalis, Jon C. "The Grand Passion". Lonchaney.org. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Blake, Michael F. (1998). "The Films of Lon Chaney". Vestal Press Inc. Page 82. ISBN   1-879511-26-6.
  4. ↑ "Reviews: The Grand Passion". Exhibitors Herald. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. 6 (9): 26. February 23, 1918.
  5. ↑ "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. 6 (13): 29. March 23, 1918.
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.