Three Who Paid | |
---|---|
Directed by |
|
Screenplay by | Joseph F. Poland [2] |
Based on | The Range-Land Avenger(short story) by George Owen Baxter [lower-alpha 1] |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Don Short [2] |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Fox Film [8] |
Release date |
|
Running time | 5 reels [8] |
Country | United States |
Languages | Silent English intertitles |
Three Who Paid is a 1923 American silent Western film [8] directed by Colin Campbell, [2] [8] and starring Dustin Farnum, with Bessie Love and Frank Campeau. [9] The film was based on the 1922 short story by George Owen Baxter, [3] [10] [11] and was produced and distributed through Fox Film. [2] [8]
Riley Sinclair (Farnum) seeks to avenge the death of his brother, whose three companions – Quade, Sanderson, and Lowrie – left him to die in the desert. Two of the three men die, and the third is spared so that he can confess to the crime. Sinclair helps John Caspar (Love), a schoolteacher, who is actually a rich young woman who is trying to get away from her opportunist husband. When her identity is revealed, she and Sinclair fall in love. [11] [13] [14] [15]
In November 1922, scenes were filmed in San Juan Canyon in Orange County, California. [16] [17] Production was delayed when Bessie Love, who was responsible for her own wardrobe, forgot to bring spirit gum to hold her wig, the prop man gave her LePage's glue, which adhered the wig to her head. [18]
The film was "a first rate production", [2] but had issues. For the parts of the film when her character is masquerading as a man, Bessie Love was deemed unconvincing. [2] Overall, the film received mixed reviews. [19] [20] [21]
On its release, some theaters showed the film with the Baby Peggy short Nobody's Darling. [9]
Film Booking Offices of America (FBO), registered as FBO Pictures Corp., was an American film studio of the silent era, a midsize producer and distributor of mostly low-budget films. The business began in 1918 as Robertson-Cole, an Anglo-American import-export company. Robertson-Cole began distributing films in the United States that December and opened a Los Angeles production facility in 1920. Late that year, R-C entered into a working relationship with East Coast financier Joseph P. Kennedy. A business reorganization in 1922 led to its assumption of the FBO name, first for all its distribution operations and ultimately for its own productions as well. Through Kennedy, the studio contracted with Western leading man Fred Thomson, who grew by 1925 into one of Hollywood's most popular stars. Thomson was just one of several silent screen cowboys with whom FBO became identified.
In the Name of the Law is a 1922 American silent melodrama directed by Emory Johnson with Dick Posson acting as assistant director. FBO released the film in August 1922. The film's "All-Star" cast included Ralph Lewis, Johnnie Walker, and Claire McDowell. The cast also included Johnson and his wife, Ella Hall. Emilie Johnson, Johnson's mother, wrote both the story and screenplay. In the Name of the Law was the first picture in Johnson's eight-picture contract with FBO.
Dress Parade is a 1927 American silent romantic drama film produced by William Sistrom and Cecil B. DeMille and distributed by Pathé. The film stars William Boyd and Bessie Love, and was directed by Donald Crisp. Although it is based on a story by Major Robert Glassburn, Major Alexander Chilton, and Herbert David Walter, the plot is essentially the same as West Point, produced at MGM in 1928.
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.
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.
Forget Me Not, also known as Forget-Me-Not, is a 1922 American silent melodrama film directed by W. S. Van Dyke and distributed by Metro Pictures. The film starred Bessie Love and Gareth Hughes. It is considered a lost film.
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.
The Vermilion Pencil is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Norman Dawn, and produced and distributed by Robertson–Cole. It is based on the eponymous 1908 novel by Homer Lea. The film stars Japanese actor Sessue Hayakawa in multiple roles, and white actors Ann May, Bessie Love, and Sidney Franklin, all in Asian roles. It is now a lost film.
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.
Sally of the Scandals is a 1928 American silent crime drama film produced and released by Film Booking Offices of America. It was directed by Lynn Shores and starred Bessie Love.
See America Thirst is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy film produced and distributed by Universal Pictures and directed by William James Craft. Silent comics Harry Langdon and Slim Summerville star along with Bessie Love. Though released late in 1930, it nevertheless had a silent version.
The American, a.k.a.The Flag Maker, is a lost 1927 American silent Western film directed by J. Stuart Blackton and starring Bessie Love and Charles Ray. It was based on the short story "The Flag Maker" by Jewel Spencer, and was produced by George K. Spoor through his company Natural Vision Pictures.
The Dawn of Understanding is a lost 1918 American silent Western comedy film produced by The Vitagraph Company of America and directed by David Smith. It stars Bessie Love in the first film of her nine-film contract with Vitagraph. It is based on the short story "The Judgement of Bolinas Plain" by 19th-century Western writer Bret Harte.
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.
Pegeen is a 1920 American silent drama film based on the 1915 novel of the same name by Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd. It was produced by Vitagraph Studios and directed by David Smith. It stars Bessie Love in the title role.
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.
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.
The Purple Dawn is a 1923 American silent romantic drama film that was produced, written, and directed by Charles R. Seeling. It stars Bessie Love, Bert Sprotte, and William E. Aldrich.
The Mailman is a 1923 American silent melodrama directed by Emory Johnson. FBO released the film in December 1923. The film's "All-Star" cast included Ralph Lewis, Johnnie Walker, and Virginia True Boardman. Emilie Johnson, Johnson's mother, wrote both the story and screenplay. The Mailman was the fourth film in Johnson's eight-picture contract with FBO.
The Devil Within is a 1921 American silent adventure film directed by Bernard J. Durning and starring Dustin Farnum, Virginia Valli and Nigel De Brulier.
Of its kind it is very good. Plain western thrills and gun play, but it took strong. Good business.
Interesting to those who like dramas of action.
Will be enjoyed by lovers of romantic story of the West.
Good western. Pleased everyone. Not suitable for Sunday. Had good attendance. Drew mixed class in town of 1,800.
A high class western that pleased everybody. This is the type of picture that is well suited to Dustin's acting. He never fails to please in an out-door picture. Moral tone fair. Good Saturday night picture. Had good attendance. Draw better class in town of 800.
Beginning as a tragedy, this powerful story rather goes to pieces in the second half. Well played, however, by Dustin Farnum, Bessie Love, Fred Kohler, Robert Agnew, Frank Campeau, William Daly. A very good Western drama.
Fair picture. Not enough action for a good Saturday picture. Film in fine shape.
A very weak offering and naturally failed to satisfy my patrons. Business bad. The girl who attempts to pass as a man is the most complete failure of this kind I have ever seen.
Not quite as good as the previous Dustin Farnum pictures.
An ordinary picture is the best I can say for this one. Dustin has ability and with me a following, so why he isn't given a good story is a mystery. … Had fair attendance. Draw general suburban class in suburban town.