''Bill Henry'' is a 1919 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

Jerome Storm Jerome Storm (November 11, 1890 – July 10, 1958) was an American film director, actor, and writer. He acted in 48 films between 1914 and 1941 and directed 47 films between 1918 and 1932. He was born in Denver, Colorado, and died in Desert ...

, and written by

Julien Josephson Julien Josephson (October 24, 1881 – April 14, 1959) was an American motion picture screenwriter. His career spanned between 1914 and 1943. He was a native of Roseburg, Oregon. Career Josephson was well known for his early silent mo ...

and

Lois Zellner Lois Zellner (born Lois Grier; January 24, 1883 – January 14, 1937) was an American screenwriter active during Hollywood's silent era. She also went by the name Lois Leeson later in her career. Biography Beginnings Born Lois Grier to Clar ...

. The film stars Charles Ray,

Edith Roberts Edith Roberts may refer to: * Edith Roberts (actress), American silent film actress * Edith A. Roberts, American botanist * Edith Roberts (writer) Edith Roberts may refer to: * Edith Roberts (actress) Edith Roberts ( – August 20, 19 ...

William A. Carroll William A. Carroll (January 9, 1875 – January 26, 1928), was an American silent film actor. Biography He was born on January 9, 1875, in Manhattan, New York City. Entering films with the ''Selig and Vitagraph'' film company, Carroll starred ...

Bert Woodruff William Herbert "Bert" Woodruff (April 29, 1856 – June 14, 1934) was an American actor of the silent era. Woodruff was born in Peoria, Illinois, and was the son of Mrs. Hannah Woodruff. He performed on stage before he began acting on fi ...

, Jennie Lee, and Walter Perkins. The film was released on August 17, 1919, 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 ...

. A print of the film is in the Russian

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 othe ...

film archive.

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 ...

, Bill Henry Jenkins (Ray) leaves the family farm with a patent vibrator under his arm and speeds across the nation on his bicycle in search of fortune. He is assaulted by an irate farmer and takes refuge in a small town hotel run by his uncle, where he gets a position as a clerk. Lela Mason (Roberts) comes to the hotel, having spent her last cent to arrive there. She has inherited a piece of farm land only to be told by the local lawyer that it is worthless, which raised Bill Henry's sympathy. He plays poker with the traveling men to win enough money to buy the property, keeping Lela ignorant as to the buyer's identity. A land salesman offers Bill Henry a much greater price for the land and Bill sells it, telling the lawyer to turn the money over to Lela. Instead, the lawyer pockets the money and accuses Bill Henry of knowingly cheating the young woman. His uncle turns him in, but Lela remains faithful. Bill Henry returns, beats up the lawyer and makes him confess his deception, and marries the young woman.

Cast

* Charles Ray as Bill Henry Jenkins *

as Lela Mason *

as Burton Rogers *

as Uncle Chet Jenkins * Jennie Lee as Aunt Martha Jenkins *Walter Perkins as E.J. Burroughs *

Walter Hiers Walter Hiers (July 18, 1893 – February 27, 1933) was an American silent film actor. Biography Born in 1893, during his two decade-long acting career spanning from 1912 to 1932, Hiers acted in 101 films. He was a particularly prolific actor w ...

as Salesman *Frederick Moore as Salesman

References

External links

*
Still
at silenthollywood.com
Glass slide
at IMDb 1919 films 1910s English-language films Silent American comedy films 1919 comedy films Paramount Pictures films Films directed by Jerome Storm American black-and-white films American silent feature films 1910s American films {{1910s-comedy-film-stub