''An Amateur Devil'' is a 1920 American silent

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 ...

directed by

Maurice Campbell Maurice Campbell (November 28, 1919 – July 4, 2014) was a Canadians, Canadian curling, curler from Trois-Rivières, Quebec. Campbell was born November 28, 1919 in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec. Educated at the University of Montreal, he joined the Ro ...

and written by Douglas Bronston based upon the short story "Wanted: A Blemish" by Henry J. Buxton and Jessie Henderson. The film stars Bryant Washburn, Charles Wingate,

Ann May Ann Beatrice Sullivan (born Anna Beatrice Max; November 25, 1898https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7602/images/4117736_00342?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=40249610 – July 26, 1985), known professionally as Ann May, was a silent f ...

Sidney Bracey Sidney Bracey (born Sidney Bracy; 18 December 1877 – 5 August 1942) was an Australian-born American actor. After a stage career in Australia, on Broadway and in Britain, he performed in more than 320 films between 1909 and 1942. Early lif ...

, Graham Pettie, and

Anna Dodge Anna Dodge (October 18, 1867 – May 4, 1945) was an American silent film actress. Anna Dodge married silent film actor George Hernandez and was frequently credited as Anna Hernandez. Filmography 1910s * ''Making a Man of Him'' (1911) * ''O ...

. The film was released on December 19, 1920, by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

. It is not known whether the film currently survives.

Plot

As described in a

film magazine Film periodicals combine discussion of individual films, genres and directors with in-depth considerations of the medium and the conditions of its production and reception. Their articles contrast with film reviewing in newspapers and magazines whi ...

, Carver Endicott (Washburn), born into wealth, has a sweetheart Margaret (May) who has become boresome to him. To stimulate his interest, his father (Wingate), a dashing old beau, pretends an affection for the young woman. She, in exasperation, accepts his proposal. The plan works and rouses Carver to come up with a scheme of besmirching the family name to prevent the wedding. He poses as a hired farmhand, a dishwasher, and then a hotel bus boy. In the latter capacity he invites the attention of a young musical queen (Mayo). It turns out that she is the former wife of his valet. His relationship with his sweetheart Margaret is resumed, and they receive a telegram announcing his father's marriage to the actress.

Cast

* Bryant Washburn as Carver Endicott *Charles Wingate as His Father *

as His Sweetheart *

as His Valet *Graham Pettie as Farmer Brown *

as Mrs. Brown *

Christine Mayo Christine Mayo (December 25, 1883 – January 9, 1961) was a silent film actress. Biography Mayo was featured in vamp roles produced by Fox Film Corporation, Metro Pictures, World Film Corporation, and Ivan Film Productions, Inc.''Famous Mov ...

as A Musical Comedy Star *

Norris Johnson ''For the publisher and activist see Buzz Johnson'' Norris Johnson (1898 - 1971) was an actress in silent films in the U.S. She had supporting roles in various films and also had lead roles in Thomas H. Ince and Samuel Goldwyn productions. Filmog ...

as Her Daughter

References

External links

* * 1920 films 1920s English-language films Silent American comedy films 1920 comedy films Paramount Pictures films American black-and-white films American silent feature films Films directed by Maurice Campbell 1920s American films {{1920s-silent-comedy-film-stub