The Monkey's Paw (1923 film)

Last updated

The Monkey's Paw
Directed by Manning Haynes
Written by Lydia Hayward
Louis N. Parker (play)
Based on"The Monkey's Paw"
by W. W. Jacobs
Produced by George Redman
Starring Moore Marriott
Marie Ault
Charles Ashton
Production
company
Artistic Pictures
Distributed byArtistic Pictures
Selznick Pictures
Release date
  • February 1923 (1923-02)
Running time
64 minutes [1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
Language Silent (English intertitles)

The Monkey's Paw is a 1923 British silent horror film directed by Manning Haynes and starring Moore Marriott, Marie Ault, and Charles Ashton. It is an adaptation of W. W. Jacobs's 1902 short story "The Monkey's Paw". The short story was made into a 1907 one-act play by Louis N. Parker, elements of which were also incorporated into this 1923 British film by screenwriter Lydia Hayward. [1] [2]

Contents

Plot

As described in a film magazine review for an American audience, [3] a traveller tells a family, John White, his wife, and son, weird tales of a magical talisman, a monkey's paw, which has the power of granting its possessor three wishes, but only with hellish consequences as punishment for tampering with fate. The father falls asleep. In his dreams he acquires the paw and requests two thousand dollars. He gets the money but this results in the death of his son Herbert. His wife compels him to wish that her boy was alive again. This is accomplished, but when he appears as a soulless zombie, in his fright Mr. White makes his third and final wish that his son be dead once more, where he may hopefully rest in peace. Awakening, the father wants nothing to do with the magic charm.

Cast

Production

The film was shot in England, [4] partially at Bushey Studios. [5] The original film print was five reels long. [4]

The May 5th issue of Motion Picture News reported that the Selznik Distributing Corporation had purchased the United States and Australian rights to the film. [6]

Reception

Frank Elliot of Motion Picture News called the film "An unusual little tale" and "fairly satisfying." He praised the unusual plot development, directing, and acting. [4]

The Princess Theatre in Waterbury, Connecticut wrote a less positive report to the Exhibitors Herald about the audience reactions, saying: "Some said 'Terrible'... The 'Yessers' tried to be nice, but wouldn't commit themselves." [7]

Related Research Articles

"The Monkey's Paw" is a horror short story by English author W. W. Jacobs. It first appeared in Harper's Monthly in 1902, and was reprinted in his third collection of short stories, The Lady of the Barge, later that year. In the story, three wishes are granted to the owner of The Monkey's Paw, but the wishes come with an enormous price for interfering with fate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marie Ault</span> British actress (1870–1951)

Marie Ault was a British character actress of stage and film.

<i>The Silent Command</i> 1923 film

The Silent Command is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by J. Gordon Edwards featuring Bela Lugosi as a foreign saboteur in his American film debut. The film, written by Anthony Paul Kelly and Rufus King, also stars Edmund Lowe, Alma Tell, and Martha Mansfield. Shot in New York, The Silent Command began Lugosi's career in the American film industry. The film's focus on his eyes, at times in extreme close-up, helped to establish his image for later roles.

<i>Judy of Rogues Harbor</i> 1920 film by William Desmond Taylor

Judy of Rogue's Harbor is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by William Desmond Taylor and starring Mary Miles Minter. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Grace Miller White, with a scenario by Clara Beranger. It was produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed through Realart and Paramount Pictures.

<i>Torment</i> (1924 film) 1924 film

Torment is a 1924 American silent crime drama film produced and directed by Maurice Tourneur and distributed by Associated First National. This film stars Bessie Love, Owen Moore, and Jean Hersholt. The film is based on a story by William Dudley Pelley with script by Fred Myton and titles by Marion Fairfax. It is a lost film.

<i>A Yankee Princess</i> 1919 silent film by David Smith

A Yankee Princess is a 1919 American silent comedy-drama film produced and distributed by the Vitagraph Company of America. It was directed by David Smith and stars Bessie Love, who also wrote the screenplay. It is a lost film.

<i>Slave of Desire</i> 1923 film

Slave of Desire is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by George D. Baker, produced and distributed by Goldwyn Pictures. It was based on the novel La Peau de chagrin by Honoré de Balzac, first published in 1831. The Balzac novel had previously been filmed in 1909 as The Wild Ass's Skin, which was more faithful to the original novel.

<i>The Ghost Patrol</i> 1923 silent film by Nat Ross

The Ghost Patrol is a 1923 American silent romantic melodrama film directed by Nat Ross from a short story by Sinclair Lewis, produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. It starred Ralph Graves and Bessie Love and is now considered lost.

<i>The Woman on the Jury</i> 1924 film

The Woman on the Jury is a lost 1924 American silent drama film produced and released by Associated First National and directed by Harry Hoyt. It is based on a Broadway stage play, The Woman on the Jury, and stars Sylvia Breamer and Bessie Love. The story was refilmed in 1929 as an early talkie under the title The Love Racket starring Dorothy Mackaill.

<i>Gentle Julia</i> (1923 film) Silent film by Rowland V. Lee

Gentle Julia is a 1923 American silent romantic drama film based on the popular novel Gentle Julia by Booth Tarkington. Directed by Rowland V. Lee, the film starred Bessie Love. It was produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation, and is considered a lost film.

<i>The Strange Adventures of Prince Courageous</i> 1923 film

The Strange Adventures of Prince Courageous, also known as The Adventures of Prince Courageous, is a 1923 American silent fantasy film series starring Bessie Love and five-year-old Arthur Trimble, directed by Frederick G. Becker.

<i>Bonnie May</i> 1920 silent film by Ida May Park

Bonnie May is a lost silent 1920 American comedy-drama film based on the 1916 novel by Louis Dodge. It was directed by Ida May Park and Joseph De Grasse and starred Bessie Love. It was produced by Andrew J. Callaghan Productions and distributed by Federated Film Exchanges of America, Inc.

<i>Penny of Top Hill Trail</i> 1921 silent film by Arthur Berthelet

Penny of Top Hill Trail is a 1921 American silent Western comedy film based on the 1919 novel by Belle Kanaris Maniates. It was directed by Arthur Berthelet and stars Bessie Love. The film was produced by Andrew J. Callaghan Productions and distributed by Federated Film Exchanges of America. The film is presumed lost.

<i>Deserted at the Altar</i> 1922 silent film by William K. Howard

Deserted at the Altar is a 1922 American silent film melodrama directed by William K. Howard and produced by Phil Goldstone Productions. It stars Bessie Love and Tully Marshall.

<i>Three Who Paid</i> 1923 film

Three Who Paid is a 1923 American silent Western film directed by Colin Campbell, and starring Dustin Farnum, with Bessie Love and Frank Campeau. The film was based on the 1922 short story by George Owen Baxter, and was produced and distributed through Fox Film.

<i>Night Life in Hollywood</i> 1922 film

Night Life in Hollywood, called The Shriek of Hollywood in Europe, is a 1922 American silent comedy film directed by Fred Caldwell. It starred J. Frank Glendon, Josephine Hill, and Gale Henry, and featured a number of cameo appearances of celebrities with their families.

<i>Mary of the Movies</i> 1923 silent film by John McDermott

Mary of the Movies is a 1923 American silent semi-autobiographical comedy film based on the career of Marion Mack. It was written by Mack and her husband Louis Lewyn, and stars Mack and Creighton Hale. Hale and director John McDermott play fictionalized versions of themselves in the film, which was also directed by McDermott.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selznick Pictures</span> American film company

Selznick Pictures was an American film production company active between 1916 and 1923 during the silent era.

The Christian is a 1915 British silent film directed by George Loane Tucker and starring Derwent Hall Caine and Elizabeth Risdon. The film is an adaptation of Hall Caine's 1897 novel The Christian. This was the third film of the story, the first The Christian (1911) was made in Australia and the second The Christian (1914) was made in the United States. The Christian was made by the London Film company, which was at the time England's most highly regarded producing organisation and whose policy was to film works of the great authors.

Toilers of the Sea is a lost 1923 American silent drama film directed by Roy William Neill and starring Lucy Fox, Holmes Herbert and Horace Tesseron. It is an adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel of the same title.

References

  1. 1 2 Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era. Midnight Marquee Press. p. 265. ISBN   978-1936168-68-2.
  2. Goble p. 241
  3. Pardy, George T. (12 January 1924). "Box Office Reviews: The Monkey's Paw". Exhibitors Trade Review. 15 (8). New York: Exhibitors Review Publishing Corporation: 21. Retrieved 29 June 2022.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  4. 1 2 3 Elliott, Frank (22 December 1923). "The Monkey's Paw". Motion Picture News . Vol. XXVIII, no. 25. New York City. p. 2901. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  5. "British Studio Gossip: Some Interesting "Futures"". Pictures and the Picturegoer . Vol. 5, no. 26. London. February 1923. p. 27. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  6. "Selznick Gets "Monkey's Paw"". Motion Picture News. Vol. XXVII, no. 18. New York City. 5 May 1923. p. 2196. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  7. Princess Theatre (13 October 1923). "Selznick: The Monkey's Paw". Exhibitors Herald. Vol. XVII, no. 16. Chicago. p. 75. Retrieved 14 May 2024.

Bibliography