The Talk of the Town (1918 film)

Last updated

The Talk of the Town
Dorothy Phillips The Talk of The Town 1918.png
Dorothy Phillips in film ad
Directed by Allen Holubar
Screenplay byAllen Holubar
Based onDiscipline and Genevra
1917 novelette
by Harold Vickers
Starring Dorothy Phillips
Lon Chaney
William Stowell
CinematographyFred LeRoy Granville
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date
  • September 28, 1918 (1918-09-28)
Running time
6 reels (one hour)
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

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.

Contents

By the time this film was released, Chaney had already quit working for Universal Pictures over a salary dispute, and was preparing to appear in the Paramount Pictures western Riddle Gawne. [1]

Plot

Genevra French (Phillips) has been raised strictly by her father Major French, without knowledge of worldly affairs. Using ideas she finds in a book "How to Attract the Opposite Sex", Genevra convinces a family friend, Lawrence Tabor (Stowell), to marry her and then later tells him that she has married him only so that she may be free of her prison-like upbringing and get a taste of Life. Lawrence is saddened that his wife doesn't love him deeply, but since he loves her, he continues on with their loveless marriage.

She becomes attracted to a worthless playboy named Jack Lanchome (Lon Chaney) and asks her husband to introduce him to her. Lawrence refuses to introduce his wife to such a ne'er-do-well, but Lanchome secretly invites Genevra to have dinner with him alone in a seedy cafe. After they eat, Lanchome locks the door and attempts to rape her, but her husband arrives just in time to save her from the scoundrel's amorous advances. Genevra is impressed by her husband's courage and suddenly she realizes that she really does love him. She begs her husband to take her home and swears she will be a good wife from now on, and never disobey him again.

The following day, Lawrence meets Lanchome in his office and attempts to pay him for the act he put on to scare Genevra straight, but Lanchome refuses the check and says "That was the first nice thing I've done for anyone in a long time. I can't accept payment." Buoyed by his good feelings about himself, Lanchome later joins the Army and goes overseas to fight in the war. Genevra never learns that the entire "attempted rape" scene at the cafe was just a set-up designed to scare her straight. [2]

Cast

Reception

"This is going to register with a bang with most folks. It gets nearly naughty several times, and some incidents have been rather broadly dealt with."---Wid's Film Daily [5]

"People like happy pictures these days, especially productions in which there is interest along with the happiness. A good line to use in your advertising is "It is a happy picture." ---Motion Picture News

"There is a strong vein of humor through the whole picture, otherwise it would be hopelessly uninteresting...The photography is sharp and clear and the settings are in keeping with the story." ---Variety [6]

Censorship

Like many American films of the time, The Talk of the Town was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors required a cut, in Reel 2, of four intertitles "Perhaps we should tell Genevra everything", "Genevra will learn of life when she marries", "And instead of a beautiful thing, nature becomes a hideous, alluring mystery", and "I never pretended to be a saint — you knew what it meant to play with me", first two kissing scenes before young woman locks herself in room, and first two scenes of woman struggling in man's arms in second room. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lon Chaney</span> American actor (1883–1930)

Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney was an American actor and makeup artist. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and afflicted, characters, and his groundbreaking artistry with makeup. Chaney was known for his starring roles in such silent horror films as The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925). His ability to transform himself using makeup techniques that he developed earned him the nickname "The Man of a Thousand Faces".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Stowell</span> American actor

William Stowell was an American silent film actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorothy Phillips</span> American actress

Dorothy Phillips was an American stage and film actress. She is known for her emotional performances in melodramas, having played a number of "brow beaten" women on screen, but had a pleasant demeanor off. She garnered little press for anything outside of her work.

The Stronger Mind is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and featuring Lon Chaney, Murdock MacQuarrie and Pauline Bush. Chaney did not routinely work for the United production unit at Universal, and was obviously sent over as a one-time loan-out for this production. It is now considered to be a lost film. A still exists showing MacQuarrie and Chaney as the two bank robbers.

<i>The Pipers Price</i> 1917 film

The Piper's Price is a 1917 silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and starring Lon Chaney, William Stowell and Dorothy Phillips. It was the first in a series of films co-starring William Stowell and Dorothy Phillips together. The screenplay was written by Ida May Park, based on the short story by Nancy Mann Waddel Woodrow. The film was released in the U.K. as Storm and Sunshine. The film is today considered lost. A still exists showing Lon Chaney in the role of Billy Kilmartin.

<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!"

<i>A Dolls House</i> (1917 film) 1917 film

A Doll's House is a 1917 American silent drama film based on the eponymous 1879 play by Henrik Ibsen. The film was written and directed by Joe De Grasse, and stars Lon Chaney, William Stowell and Dorothy Phillips. Film historian Jon C. Mirsalis stated that director De Grasse's wife Ida May Park wrote the screenplay, but most sources attribute both the writing and directing of the film to De Grasse himself. The film is today considered lost.

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.

The Empty Gun is a 1917 American silent Western film directed by Joe De Grasse and featuring Lon Chaney and Claire McDowell. It was distributed by Universal Pictures. The film was reissued theatrically on April 29, 1921. This was the last short film Chaney made; every film he made after this was a full-length feature. A still exists showing Lon Chaney in the role of Frank, which see.

<i>The Grand Passion</i> 1918 film

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. The film was allegedly shown in some theaters under the title of The Boss of Powderville.

<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>A Broadway Scandal</i> 1918 film

A Broadway Scandal is a 1918 American silent romantic drama film directed by Joe De Grasse that features Carmel Myers, Lon Chaney and Edwin August. The screenplay was written by Harvey Gates. This would be Lon Chaney's last film for director Joe De Grasse, ending a multiyear collaboration between the two men. The film's tagline was "Engagement Extraordinary! An Amazing Romance of a French Girl in New York". It is today considered to be a lost film. A still exists showing Lon Chaney as Kink Colby, together with the other main players in the shot.

<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>That Devil, Bateese</i> 1918 film

That Devil, Bateese is a 1918 American silent action-drama film directed by William Wolbert and starring Monroe Salisbury, Ada Gleason, and Lon Chaney. The screenplay was written by Bernard McConville, based on a story written by Bess Meredyth. Even though this film was released before some of his earlier Universal films, it was actually Chaney's final film from his first stint at Universal Studios. Filming took place at Big Bear Lake and the San Bernardino National Forest in California. The film is considered lost.

<i>Good Night, Paul</i> 1918 American film

Good Night, Paul is a 1918 American silent comedy romance film directed by Walter Edwards. It was based on a successful stage play with book and lyrics by Roland Oliver and Charles Dickson and music by Harry B. Olsen. The film was produced by Lewis J. Selznick's Select Pictures Corporation.

<i>Voices of the City</i> 1921 film

Voices of the City is a 1921 American silent crime drama film starring Leatrice Joy and Lon Chaney that was directed by Wallace Worsley, based on the Leroy Scott novel The Night Rose. The film took more than 9 months to be released due to a controversy over the proposed title and the film's abundance of gunplay. The film was retitled Voices of the City and was only released in December 1921, although it had been completed in early March. The film is still listed under The Night Rose in some reference sources.

Bondage is a 1917 American silent drama film written and directed by Ida May Park, and starring Dorothy Phillips, William Stowell, Gretchen Lederer and J.B. MacLaughlin.

References

  1. ↑ "Progressive Silent Film List: The Talk of the Town". silentera.com. Retrieved June 26, 2008.
  2. ↑ "Reviews: The Talk of the Town". Exhibitors Herald. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. 7 (14): 25. September 28, 1918.
  3. ↑ Stumpf, Charles (April 13, 2010). ZaSu Pitts: The Life and Career. McFarland. p. 115. ISBN   978-0-7864-6023-6.
  4. ↑ "Local Girl Stars". Los Angeles Herald. December 3, 1918. p. 37. Retrieved April 23, 2023– via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  5. ↑ Blake, Michael F. (1998). "The Films of Lon Chaney". Vestal Press Inc. Page 88. ISBN   1-879511-26-6.
  6. ↑ Mirsalis, Jon C. "The Talk of the Town". Lonchaney.org. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. 7 (17): 43. October 19, 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.