Yankee Pluck

Yankee Pluck
Directed by	George Archainbaud
Written by	Willard Mack
Produced by	William A. Brady
Starring	Ethel Clayton Montagu Love Johnny Hines
Cinematography	Philip Hatkin
Production company	World Film
Distributed by	World Film
Release date	May 21, 1917 (1917-05-21)
Running time	50 minutes
Country	United States
Languages	Silent English intertitles

Yankee Pluck is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Ethel Clayton, Montagu Love, and Johnny Hines. ^[1]

Cast

• Ethel Clayton as Polly Pollard
• Edward Langford as Lieutenant Richard Travers
• Johnny Hines as Lieutenant Tommy Patterson
• Montagu Love as Baron Wootchi
• Eric Wayne as George Henry Singleton
• Charles Bowser as John Pollard
• Isette Monroe as Mrs. Madison Derwent

Production

The working title for the film was Pretty Polly Pollard, changed to Yankee Pluck in early May, 1917. ^[2]

Reception

Wid's Films and Film Folk's review was entirely negative, calling the film a "cheap, crude 'meller' without any redeeming feature." ^[3]

Motion Picture News reviewer Peter Milne described the film as a "very fair picture." He criticized the plot detail of a Japanese spy seeking submarine plans as being "not at all indicative of good diplomacy," and The Maryland Country Club for looking like a gangsters' hideout. ^[4]

Variety's review was mostly positive, praising the artistic efforts despite "there is little or nothing original about the plot." The reviewer also praised the performances of Johnny Hines and Charles Bowser in particular. ^[5]

Censorship

Before Yankee Pluck could be released in Kansas, the Kansas Board of Review required all scenes of women smoking cigarettes to be eliminated. ^[6]

References

1. Guide to the Silent Years of American Cinema, p. 149
2. Motion Picture News. New York City: Motion Picture News, Inc. May 5, 1917. p. 2850.
3. Wid's Films and Film Folk. New York City: Wid's Films and Film Folks, Inc. May 24, 1917. p. 328.
4. Motion Picture News. New York City: Motion Picture News, Inc. May 26, 1917. p. 3312.
5. Variety. New York City: Variety Publishing Company. May 11, 1917. pp. 34b.
6. "Kansas Board of Review Movie Index - Kansas Historical Society". Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved August 9, 2025.

Bibliography

• Donald W. McCaffrey & Christopher P. Jacobs. Guide to the Silent Years of American Cinema. Greenwood Publishing, 1999. ISBN   0-313-30345-2

External links

• Yankee Pluck at IMDb