''Greased Lightning'' is a surviving 1919 American silent

comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...

film 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 movie ...

. The film stars Charles Ray,

Wanda Hawley Wanda Hawley (born Selma Wanda Pittack; July 30, 1895 – March 18, 1963) was an American actress during the silent film era. She entered the theatrical profession with an amateur group in Seattle, and later toured the United States and Can ...

, Robert McKim,

Willis Marks Willis Marks (August 20, 1865, Rochester, Minnesota, United States – December 6, 1952, Los Angeles, California) was an American silent film actor. Biography In 1888, Marks debuted on stage professionally. He acted in Oliver Morosco's stock c ...

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 ...

, and

J. P. Lockney John P. Lockney (March 17, 1867, date of death unknown) was an American actor of the silent film era. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1915 and 1937. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Partial filmography * ''The Bride of Hat ...

. The film was released on April 27, 1919, by Paramount Pictures.

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 ...

, village blacksmith Andy Fletcher (Ray) is about to purchase a new car when Laban Flint (Marks), the town banker, warns him to stay clear of his daughter Alice (Hawley) with the vehicle. Since Alice was the cause of Andy's desire in making the purchase, he is dissuaded. But a lucky trade brings a motored relic into his possession and Flint is pacified. During a drive into the country with Alice and her father, the car breaks down and an estrangement ensues when Alice departs in the elegant machine of Alden J. Armitage (McKim), a wealthy investor recently come to Piperville. Some time later Armitage arranges an automobile race and Andy enters his chassis. While the race is on, Armitage robs the bank and flees. Andy pursues in his car and captures the robber.

Cast

* Charles Ray as Andy Fletcher *

as Alice Flint * Robert McKim as Alden J. Armitage *

as Laban Flint *

as Grandpa Piper *

as Milt Barlow *

Otto Hoffman Otto F. Hoffman (May 2, 1879 – June 23, 1944) was an American film actor. He appeared in almost 200 films between 1915 and 1944. He was born in New York City and died in Los Angeles, California, from lung cancer. Hoffman's Broadway credit ...

as Rufus Shadd

Preservation status

A print survives in the

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 oth ...

, Russian film archive.The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: ''Greased Lightning''
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References

External links

* * * * 1919 films 1919 comedy films 1910s English-language films American auto racing films Silent American 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