''Coincidence'' is a 1921 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 ...

starring

Robert Harron Robert Emmett Harron (April 12, 1893 – September 5, 1920) was an American motion picture actor of the early silent film era. Although he acted in over 200 films, he is possibly best recalled for his roles in the D.W. Griffith directed film ...

and

June Walker : ''For the American activist and former Hadassah leader, see June Walker (Hadassah)'' June Walker (June 14, 1900 – February 3, 1966) was an American stage and film actress. Early years Walker was born in New York City on June 14, 1900, an ...

. It was Harron's first starring role after signing a deal with

Metro Pictures Corporation Metro Pictures Corporation was a motion picture production company founded in early 1915 in Jacksonville Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List ...

, as well as his last film; Harron died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in September 1920 between completion of filming and the release. It was directed by Chester "Chet" Withey and written by Brian Hooker based on a story by Howard E. Morton. The cinematographer was Louis C. Bitzer. According to film historian Anthony Slide, "With Robert Harron's death, the film industry for the first time had to deal with the release of a film whose star had just died under mysterious circumstances." The film was released in 1921, the year following Harron's death. Instead of promoting ''Coincidence'' as Harron's final film, Metro chose not to associate it with Harron's death and had a "low key" release.

Plot

Billy Jenks (Harron) leaves his small town to find success in New York City, but he settles for a department store cashier job. He gets in a heated romance with secretary and aspiring pianist Phoebe Howard (Walker). Their romance leads to both of them being fired, and Billy is later arrested for burglary. Billy tries to borrow money from his wealthy aunt, who has died without his knowledge. Also without his knowledge, she left him $100,000, and her estate lawyers manage to find Billy through a coincidence. The money is then stolen by a con man who also tries to woo Phoebe, but Billy gets both back through a series of coincidences. He and Phoebe then get married.Staff report (December 31, 1921)
"Coincidence" with Robert Harron and June Walker filmed at Strand.
''

Berkeley Daily Gazette Berkeley ( ) is a city on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in northern Alameda County, California, United States. It is named after the 18th-century Irish people, Irish bishop and philosopher George Berkeley. It borders the cities of Oakla ...

Cast

Bradley Barker Bradley Barker (January 18, 1883 – September 29, 1951) was an American actor and film director of the silent era. He also created sound effects for film and radio. Born in Long Island, New York, Barker was a vaudeville performer and an a ...

as "Handsome Harry" Brent *Frank Belcher as John Carter *William Frederic as Stephen Fiske *

as Billy Jenks *June Ellen Terry as Dorothy Carter *

as Phoebe Howard

Production notes

''Coincidence'' began shooting in

Mamaroneck, New York Mamaroneck ( ) is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 31,758 at the 2020 United States census over 29,156 at the 2010 census. There are two villages contained within the town: Larchmont and the Village of Ma ...

in July 1920. The film is now

lost Lost may refer to getting lost, or to: Geography *Lost, Aberdeenshire, a hamlet in Scotland * Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, or LOST, a hiking and cycling trail in Florida, US History *Abbreviation of lost work, any work which is known to have bee ...

. No prints are known to survive.

References

External links

* 1921 films 1921 comedy films Silent American comedy films American silent feature films American black-and-white films Films shot in New York (state) Metro Pictures films Films directed by Chester Withey 1920s American films {{1920s-silent-comedy-film-stub