''Black Beauty'' is a 1921 American silent film version of Anna Sewell's 1877 novel of the same name. ''Black Beauty'' is an autobiography of a horse, who tells the story of his life and of the people surrounding it. This film exists in an incomplete state with four of seven reels preserved at the Library of Congress. A competing/rival independent film of the same story was also released in early 1921 starring Claire Adams and Pat O'Malley. It was produced by Eskay Harris Feature Film Company.

Plot

As summarized in a film publication, a human love story was added to the horse story, which includes a fox hunt and race. At a house party given by Squire Gordon (Steppling), his daughter Jessie (Paige) and Harry Blomefield (Morrison) are playing games with the children, although they have reached the age where Harry realizes that he loves her. Among the guests is Jack Beckett (Webb), who lives by his wits and has gained entree as a favorite of the haughty Lady Wynsaring (Farrington). Squire Gordon gives Lord Wynwaring (Peacocke) £800 for his wife's charity, which Jack steals from the Wynwaring room. During a fox hunt the next morning, Jessie's brother George (Kenny) is killed in a fall from his horse. Jack puts the stolen money in the pocket of the dead man and tells Jessie that her brother was a thief. To prevent him from telling her mother, Jessie agrees to marry Jack when she comes of age. Jessie meanwhile realizes that she loves Harry, who cannot understand her wish to marry Jack. Several years pass and Harry tries to

elope Elopement is a term that is used in reference to a marriage which is conducted in a sudden and secretive fashion, usually involving a hurried flight away from one's place of residence together with one's beloved with the intention of getting ma ...

with Jessie, but is foiled. After a race sequence, Black Beauty carries Harry to victory and to Jessie, foiling the plans of the villain Jack.

Cast

Jean Paige Jean Paige (born Lucille Beatrice O'Hair, July 3, 1895 – December 15, 1990) was an American film actress of the silent era. Early years Paige was born in Paris, Illinois, and raised on her father's farm there. She developed a love for hors ...

as Jessie Gordon * James Morrison as Harry Blomefield * George Webb as Jack Beckett * Bobby Mack as Derby Ghost * John Steppling as Squire Gordon *

Leslie T. Peacocke Captain Leslie Tufnell Peacocke (1872 - March 5, 1941) was an actor, screenwriter, and director in the United States. He was born in Bangalore, British Raj and served in the Connaught Rangers before emigrating to the United States. In 1919 he ...

as Lord Wynwaring *

Adele Farrington Adele Farrington (1867 – 19 December 1936) was an American actress of the silent film era. Biography Born Anna King in Brooklyn, New York, Farrington was a stage actress before appearing in 74 films between 1914 and 1926. She was a relatively ...

as Lady Wynsaring * Chick Morrison as John Manly *

Mollie McConnell Mollie McConnell (September 24, 1865 – December 9, 1920) was an American silent film actress. McConnell was born in Chicago, Illinois, and attended Mills Seminary in Oakland, California. She studied further at "Miss Grant's college" in Chica ...

as Mrs. Gordon (*posthumous release for Mollie, she died in 1920) *

Colin Kenny James Colin Ramsey Kenny (born December 10, 1943) is a former Canadian Senator. A member of the Liberal Party, he was appointed to the Senate in 1984 by Pierre Trudeau to represent the Rideau region of Ontario. On January 31, 2018 it was anno ...

as George Gordon * Georgia French as Flora Gordon *

Robert Bolder Robert Bolder (20 July 1859 – 10 December 1937) was an English film actor of the silent era. He appeared in more than 120 films between 1912 and 1936. He was born in London and died in Los Angeles, California. In the early part of the 20t ...

as Vicar Blomefield *

Margaret Mann Margaret Mann (4 April 1868, in Aberdeen, Scotland – 4 February 1941, in Los Angeles, California), was a Scottish-American actress. Biography Margaret Mann starred in a number of major silent films such as '' Black Beauty'' in 1921 and play ...

as Mrs. Blomefield * George C. Pearce as Farmer Grey * James Connelly as Fat Bailiff * Robert Milasch as Lean Bailiff * James Donnelly

Production

For its 1929 re-release, the film was cut to 35 minutes.

References

External links

* * {{David Smith, state=expanded 1921 drama films 1921 films Films based on Black Beauty Silent American drama films American silent feature films Films directed by David Smith (director) American black-and-white films 1920s American films