''Charity Castle'' is a 1917 American silent

comedy-drama film Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple comic relief seen in a typical ...

directed by

Lloyd Ingraham Lloyd Chauncey Ingraham (November 30, 1874 – April 4, 1956) was an American film actor and director. Biography Born in Rochelle, Illinois, Ingraham appeared in more than 280 films between 1912 and 1950, as well as directing more than 100 f ...

and starring

Mary Miles Minter Mary Miles Minter (born Juliet Reilly; April 25, 1902Louisiana Birth Certificate, Caddo Parish, No. 119, Book A, Page 97, Birth Date: April 25, 1902, Name: Mary M. Reilly ic – Original Caddo birth record was recorded as "J.H. Riley's Child" ...

. As is the case with many of Minter's features, it is thought to be a

lost film A lost film is a feature or short film that no longer exists in any studio archive, private collection, public archive or the U.S. Library of Congress. Conditions During most of the 20th century, U.S. copyright law required at least one copy o ...

.The Library of Congress/FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: ''Charity Castle''
/ref>

Plot

As described and illustrated in various film magazines, when the mother of Charity (Minter) and her little brother, whom she calls "The Prince," passes away, they are left in the care of her tenant, Merlin Durand (Forrest). He is the son of a millionaire, but his miserly father, who disapproves of his extravagant lifestyle, has banished him from home until he can produce his first week's pay-check. When Merlin's bills pile up, Charity takes pity on him, and decides that she and her brother will talk his father into taking him back. They go to the father's house and find it deserted; Simon Durand has gone to "take the waters" and the servants have seized the opportunity to take the night off. Charity and the Prince promptly move into the house and call it their castle, as they wait for the father's return. That night, Bill the burglar (Turner) breaks into the house, but Charity charms him into becoming their protector. To complete this unconventional household, Sam the bum (Russell) and Lucius (Aitken), a stranded actor, soon join them. When Simon Durand returns, he is at first furious to find these strangers in his home; Charity, however, soon wins him over, and he decides to keep on Bill, Sam and Lucius in place of his absent servants. Merlin, meanwhile, has managed to secure a job. With his first pay-check in hand, he goes to see his father, where he is overjoyed to find his wards safe and sound. Father and son are reconciled, and all live happily in the newly-renamed "Charity Castle."

Cast

as Charity * Clifford Callis as The Prince *

Allan Forrest Allan Forrest Fisher (September 1, 1885 – July 25, 1941) was an American silent film actor. Life and career Allan Forrest Fisher starred in 119 films, mostly silent, between 1913 and 1932. He appeared in films such as '' The Torch Bearer'', ...

as Merlin Durand *

Eugenie Forde Eugenie Forde (June 22, 1879 – September 5, 1940) was an American silent film actress. She starred in 73 films between 1912 and 1927 in films such as ''The Diamond from the Sky'' (1915) and '' Wives and Other Wives'' with actors such ...

as Zelma Verona *

Henry A. Barrows Henry Arthur Barrows (April 29, 1875 – March 25, 1945) was an American actor who appeared in films from 1913 to 1936. Burrows performed in supporting roles for American, Astra, Biograph, Brentwood, Pathe, Universal, and Vitagraph studios. H ...

as Simon Durand *

Ashton Dearholt Ashton Dearholt (April 4, 1894 – April 27, 1942) was an American actor of the silent film era. He appeared in 75 films between 1915 and 1938. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and died in Los Angeles, California. He was sometimes billed ...

as Elmer Trent * Robert Klein as Graves *

Spottiswoode Aitken Frank Spottiswoode Aitken (16 April 1868 – 26 February 1933) was a Scottish-American actor of the silent era. He played Dr. Cameron in D. W. Griffith's epic drama ''The Birth of a Nation''. Early years Aitken was born 16 April 1868 in Edin ...

as Lucius Garrett * George Ahearn as Bill Turner * J. Gordon Russell as Sam Smith

References

External links

* 1917 films 1917 comedy-drama films American silent feature films American black-and-white films Films directed by Lloyd Ingraham Lost American comedy-drama films American Film Company films Mutual Film films 1917 lost films English-language comedy-drama films 1910s American films Silent American comedy-drama films 1910s English-language films {{silent-comedy-drama-film-stub