The Silver King (1929 film)

Last updated

The Silver King
Directed by T. Hayes Hunter
Written byHenry Herman
Fenn Sherie
Henry Arthur Jones (play)
Starring Percy Marmont
Harold Huth
Jean Jay
Chili Bouchier
Cinematography Bernard Knowles
Production
company
Distributed by Paramount British
Release date
  • May 1929 (1929-05)
Running time
86 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguagesSilent
English intertitles

The Silver King is a 1929 British silent drama film directed by T. Hayes Hunter and starring Percy Marmont, Harold Huth and Chili Bouchier. The film is an adaptation of the 1882 play The Silver King by Henry Arthur Jones. It was made at Cricklewood Studios and Lime Grove Studios. The film was an ambitious production by the Welsh-Pearson company made at an estimated cost of around £60,000. However the company's decision to shoot it and other films that year as silents led to large financial losses due to the emergence of sound. [1]

Contents

Plot

Wilfred Denver (Marmont) wins the heart of the beautiful Nellie (Jean Jay) and marries her, earning the ongoing festering resentment of Nellie's former beau Geoffrey Ware (Huth). A few years later, Wilfred and Nellie have a daughter, but Wilfred's financial recklessness has left him facing large debts. Geoffrey sees an opportunity for revenge by giving his desperate former friend a surefire insiders' tip on a horse running at generous odds in that year's Epsom Derby. Wilfred lays a large bet which he can ill afford, only to watch in dismay as the horse straggles home at the back of the field. Geoffrey feigns an apology, then urges Wilfred to drown his sorrows. He gets Wilfred completely befuddled and dishevelled with drink, then takes him home to Nellie, gloating to her about the dissolute wretch she chose over him.

As Geoffrey makes his way home later that evening, he is robbed and murdered by a band of crooks. The police learn of the events of the day and interview Wilfred, who is unable to provide a satisfactory account of his movements that evening. Realising that he faces arrest, trial and possible execution, Wilfred flees to America, leaving Nellie behind to fend for herself and their child as best she can.

Years pass, and Wilfred hits the jackpot in America with a silver mine. Now a rich man known to all as the "Silver King", he returns to England incognito. He sets about investigating the circumstances of Geoffrey's murder, and identifies the guilty individuals. He takes his evidence to the police, who exonerate him of all charges. He then engineers a reconciliation with Nellie and their now grown daughter Olive (Chili Bouchier).

Cast

Related Research Articles

<i>Lord Jim</i> (1925 film) 1925 film

Lord Jim is a 1925 American silent drama film starring Percy Marmont, Noah Beery, and Duke Kahanamoku. The film was directed by Victor Fleming and based on the 1900 novel Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chili Bouchier</span> British actress

Chili Bouchier was an English film actress who achieved success during the silent film era, and went on to many screen appearances with the advent of sound films, before progressing to theatre later in her career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ann Little</span> American actress (1891–1984)

Ann Little, also known as Anna Little, was an American film actress whose career was most prolific during the silent film era of the early 1910s through the early 1920s. Today, most of her films are lost, with only 12 known to survive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Percy Marmont</span> English actor

Percy Marmont was an English film actor.

<i>Among Those Present</i> 1921 film by Fred C. Newmeyer

Among Those Present is a 1921 American "three-reeler" silent comedy film directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis and Mary Pickford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harold Huth</span> British actor and film producer

Harold Huth was a British actor, film director and producer.

<i>To Be a Lady</i> 1934 film

To Be a Lady is a 1934 British romance drama, directed and produced by George King, and starring Chili Bouchier and Bruce Lester. The film is the first screen editing credit of American film editor Elmo Williams.

<i>Murder in Reverse</i> 1945 British film

Murder in Reverse is a 1945 British thriller film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring William Hartnell, Jimmy Hanley and Chili Bouchier. It is based on the story Query by "Seamark".

Maria Marten is a 1928 British silent drama film directed by Walter West starring Trilby Clark, Warwick Ward and Dora Barton. It is based on the real story of the Red Barn Murder in the 1820s, and is one of five film versions of the events. The film shifted the action to fifty years earlier to the height of the Georgian era. This was the last of the silent film adaptations of the Maria Marten story, and its success paved the way for the much better 1935 sound film remake starring Tod Slaughter. A 35mm print of the 1928 silent film exists in the British Film Institute's archives.

<i>The Branded Woman</i> 1920 American film by Albert Parker

The Branded Woman is a 1920 American silent drama film released by First National Pictures. It stars Norma Talmadge who also produced the film along with her husband Joseph Schenck through their production company, Norma Talmadge Productions. The film is based on a 1917 Broadway play Branded, by Oliver D. Bailey and was adapted for the screen by Anita Loos and Albert Parker who also directed.

<i>Broken Laws</i> 1924 film by Roy William Neill

Broken Laws is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Roy William Neill, remarkable for the appearance of Dorothy Davenport, who is billed as "Mrs. Wallace Reid".

Sir or Madam is a 1928 British-German silent comedy film directed by Carl Boese and starring Margot Armand, Percy Marmont and Ossi Oswalda. It was based on the 1923 novel Sir or Madame by Berta Ruck and shot at Elstree Studios near London. The film was a co-production between Germany and Britain, with separate versions released in the countries. In Britain it was not released until February 1930.

The Girl and the Outlaw is a 1908 American silent short Western film directed by D. W. Griffith for American Mutoscope & Biograph Company. It starred Charles Inslee as the outlaw but other members of the cast are largely unconfirmed. Florence Lawrence and Mack Sennett made early appearances.

Wedding Rings is a 1929 American Pre-Code drama film directed by William Beaudine and starring H.B. Warner, Lois Wilson and Olive Borden. It is considered a lost film.

Rogues of the Turf is a 1923 British silent sports film directed by Wilfred Noy and starring Fred Groves, Olive Sloane and James Lindsay. The screenplay involves a plot to kidnap a race horse.

<i>The Silver King</i> (1919 film) 1919 film by George Irving

The Silver King is a lost 1919 American silent drama film directed by George Irving and starring stage star William Faversham. It is based on the play The Silver King by Henry Arthur Jones and Henry Herman.

<i>Idle Tongues</i> 1924 American silent drama film by Lambert Hillyer

Idle Tongues is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Lambert Hillyer and produced by Thomas H. Ince, one of his last efforts before his death that year. It starred Percy Marmont and Doris Kenyon and was distributed by First National Pictures.

<i>A Womans Faith</i> 1925 film

A Woman's Faith is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Edward Laemmle and written by Edward T. Lowe Jr. and C.R. Wallace. It is based on the 1925 novel Miracle by Clarence Budington Kelland. The film stars Alma Rubens, Percy Marmont, Jean Hersholt, ZaSu Pitts, Hughie Mack, and Cesare Gravina. The film was released on August 9, 1925, by Universal Pictures.

<i>The Man Life Passed By</i> 1923 film directed by Victor Schertzinger

The Man Life Passed By is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Victor Schertzinger and starring Percy Marmont, Jane Novak, and Eva Novak. The Novak sisters portray two sisters in the film.

<i>Loves Penalty</i> 1921 film directed by John Gilbert

Love's Penalty is a 1921 American drama film written and directed by John Gilbert. The film stars Hope Hampton, Irma Harrison, Mrs. Phillip Landau, Percy Marmont, John B. O'Brien, and Virginia Valli. The film was released in June 1921, by Associated First National Pictures.

References

  1. Low p.163-64

Bibliography