''A Small Town Idol'' is a 1921 American silent feature

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

produced by

Mack Sennett Mack Sennett (born Michael Sinnott; January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was a Canadian-American film actor, director, and producer, and studio head, known as the 'King of Comedy'. Born in Danville, Quebec, in 1880, he started in films in the ...

and released through Associated First National. The film stars

Ben Turpin Bernard "Ben" Turpin (September 19, 1869 – July 1, 1940) was an American comedian and actor, best remembered for his work in silent films. His trademarks were his cross-eyed appearance and adeptness at vigorous physical comedy. Turpin wo ...

and was made and acted by many of the same Sennett personnel from his previous year's '' Down on the Farm''. Sennett and Erle C. Kenton directed.''The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1921-30'' by The American Film Institute, c. 1971''A Small Town Idol'' at silentera.com
/ref> The picture was Sennett’s biggest undertaking to date, costing $350,000 and required over a year to make.

Plot

Sam (Turpin) leaves town after being falsely accused of a crime and becomes a film star in Hollywood working with actress Marcelle Mansfield (Prevost). He returns to his home town hailed as a hero where one of his films is shown in the theater. His rival Jones (Finlayson), who wants Sam's girlfriend Mary (Haver), frames Sam for the shooting of Mary's father. Just as the townspeople are about to lynch Sam, Mary arrives to prove Sam's innocence and the two are reconciled.

Cast

as Sam Smith * James Finlayson as J. Wellington Jones *

Phyllis Haver Phyllis Maude Haver (January 6, 1899 – November 19, 1960) was an American actress of the silent film era. Early life Haver was born in Douglass, Kansas to James Hiram Haver (1872–1936) and Minnie Shanks Malone (1879–1949). When sh ...

as Mary Brown *

Bert Roach Egbert "Bert" Roach (August 21, 1891 – February 16, 1971) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 320 films between 1914 and 1951. He was born in Washington, D.C., and died in Los Angeles, California, age 79. Selected filmogr ...

- Martin Brown *Al Cooke as Joe Barnum *

Charles Murray Charles Murray may refer to: Politicians *Charles Murray, 1st Earl of Dunmore (1661–1710), British peer *Charles Murray (author and diplomat) (1806–1895), British author and diplomat *Charles Murray, 7th Earl of Dunmore (1841–1907), Scotti ...

as Sheriff Sparks (credited as Charlie Murray) *

Marie Prevost Marie Prevost (born Marie Bickford Dunn; November 8, 1896 – January 21, 1937) was a Canadian-born film actress. During her 20-year career, she made 121 silent and sound films. Prevost began her career during the silent film era. She was d ...

as Marcelle Mansfield *

Dot Farley Dorothea "Dot" Farley (February 6, 1881 – May 2, 1971) was an American film actress who appeared in 280 motion pictures between 1910 and 1950. She was also known as Dorothy Farley. Biography Born in Chicago, Illinois, Dorothea Farley was t ...

as Mrs. Smith *

Eddie Gribbon Eddie Gribbon (January 3, 1890 – September 29, 1965) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 180 films from the 1910s to the 1950s. Gribbon began working in Mack Sennett films in 1916 and continued through the 1920s. He usuall ...

as Bandit Chief *

Kalla Pasha Kalla Pasha (born as Joseph T. Rickard; March 5, 1879 – June 10, 1933) was an American professional wrestler, vaudeville comedian, and film actor active during the silent era. Biography Kalla Pasha was the stage name of Joseph T. Rickard ...

as Bandie Chief's Rival * Billy Bevan as Director * George O'Hara as Cameraman * John J. Richardson as Screen Villain (credited as Jack Richardson) *

Louise Fazenda Louise Fazenda (June 17, 1895 – April 17, 1962) was an American film actress, appearing chiefly in silent comedy films. Early life Fazenda was born in her maternal grandparents' house in Lafayette, Indiana, the daughter of merchandise broke ...

as Theatregoer *

Lige Conley Lige Conley (born Elijah Crommie; December 5, 1897 – December 11, 1937) was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 140 films between 1915 and 1938. Biography As Lige Crommie, the curly-haired young comedian joined the stock ...

as Minister (credited as Lige Crommie) A Small Town Idol (1921) - 4

''uncredited performers'' *

Heinie Conklin Heinie Conklin (born Charles John Conklin; July 16, 1880July 30, 1959) was an American actor and comedian whose career began in the silent film era. Early years Conklin was born Charles John Conklin on July 16, 1880, in San Francisco, Califor ...

as Jester in movie *

Ramon Novarro José Ramón Gil Samaniego (February 6, 1899 – October 30, 1968), known professionally as Ramon Novarro, was a Mexican-American actor. He began his career in silent films in 1917 and eventually became a leading man and one of the top box ...

as Dancer (credited as Ramon Samaniegos) *Jane Allen as Minor Role * Andy Clyde as Minor Role *

Harry Gribbon Harry Peter Gribbon (June 9, 1885 – July 28, 1961) was an American film actor, comedian and director known for ''The Cameraman'' (1928), ''Show People'' (1928) and ''Art Trouble'' (1934). He appeared in more than 140 films between 1915 a ...

as Minor Role *Floy Guinn as Minor Role *Mack L. Hamilton as Minor Role *

Harriet Hammond Harriet Hammond (October 20, 1899 – September 23, 1991) was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in more than 40 films between 1918 and 1930. Hammond, who was appearing in prominent roles in the Mack Sennett comedy feature ...

as Minor Role *

Mildred June Mildred June (December 23, 1905 – June 19, 1940) was an American actress who appeared in silent films. She was also co-writer of a 1927 film. She died at the age of 34 from alcoholism. Life June was born in St. Louis in 1905. She was an Ame ...

as Minor Role *Fanny Kelly as Minor Role *

Marvin Loback Marvin Loback (November 21, 1896 – August 18, 1938) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 110 films between 1916 and 1935. He was born in Tacoma, Washington and died in Los Angeles, California. Selected filmography * '' Fo ...

as Minor Role *

Don Marion Don Marion Davis (October 9, 1917 – December 10, 2020), professionally known as John Henry Jr. and Don Marion, was an American child actor of the silent film era, who during a brief career in show business appeared in several feature roles an ...

as Minor Role *

Kewpie Morgan Kewpie Morgan (born Horace Allen Morgan, February 1, 1892 – September 24, 1956) was an American silent film comedian who also performed in a few early sound films. He appeared in 99 films from 1915 to 1936. He appeared in the films of such comed ...

as Minor Role *

Derelys Perdue Derelys Perdue (born Geraldine Perdue; March 22, 1902 – September 30, 1989) was an American silent-film actress and popular dancer during the 1920s. Biography Born Geraldine Perdue in Kansas City, Missouri, following high school, she atten ...

as Dancer *Gladys Whitfield as Minor Role

Notes

* This was

's seventh film, where he was billed as Ramon Samaniegos. * Copies of the film exist in archives, such as

Gosfilmofond Gosfilmofond is a state film archive in Russia. It is the main film archive of the Russian Federation and a member of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF). It is a state cultural institution — curator of films collection and oth ...

. * In 1939,

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

cut it down to two reels, adding music, sound effects and narration, and released it as a "Broadway Brevity."

References

External links

* *
''A Small Town Idol'' (1921) - abridged with narration
at

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Small Town Idol, A 1921 films American silent feature films First National Pictures films American black-and-white films Silent American comedy films 1921 comedy films Films directed by Erle C. Kenton Films directed by Mack Sennett 1920s American films