''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 and released through

Associated First National First National Pictures was an American motion picture production and distribution company. It was founded in 1917 as First National Exhibitors' Circuit, Inc., an association of independent theatre owners in the United States, and became the count ...

. 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 - 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 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 Billy Bevan (born William Bevan Harris, 29 September 1887 – 26 November 1957) was an Australian-born vaudevillian, who became an American film actor. He appeared in more than 250 American films between 1916 and 1950. Career Bevan was bo ...

as Director * George O'Hara as Cameraman *

John J. Richardson John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

as Screen Villain (credited as Jack Richardson) * Louise Fazenda as Theatregoer * Lige Conley as Minister (credited as Lige Crommie) A Small Town Idol (1921) - 4

''uncredited performers'' * Heinie Conklin as Jester in movie * Ramon Novarro as Dancer (credited as Ramon Samaniegos) *Jane Allen as Minor Role *

Andy Clyde Andrew Allan Clyde (March 25, 1892 – May 18, 1967) was a Scottish-born American film and television actor whose career spanned more than four decades. In 1921 he broke into silent films as a Mack Sennett comic, debuting in ''On a Summer ...

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 as Minor Role * Mildred June 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 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 Ramon Novarro's seventh film, where he was billed as Ramon Samaniegos. * Copies of the film exist in archives, such as Gosfilmofond. * 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. Di ...

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