''Half an Hour'' is a 1920 American silent

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by

Harley Knoles Harry Knoles (1880-1936) was a British film director of the silent era. Selected filmography * ''The Greater Will'' (1915) * ''The Master Hand'' (1915) * ''Bought and Paid For (1916 film), Bought and Paid For'' (1916) * ''His Brother's Wife (191 ...

and written by

Clara Beranger Clara Beranger (' Strouse; January 14, 1886 – September 10, 1956) was an American screenwriter of the silent film era and a member of the original faculty of the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Biography Beranger was born Clara Strouse in Balti ...

. The film stars

Dorothy Dalton Dorothy Dalton (September 22, 1893 – April 13, 1972) was an American silent film actress and stage personality who worked her way from a stock company to a movie career. Beginning in 1910, Dalton was a player in stock companies in Chicago; Te ...

, Charles Richman, Albert L. Barrett, Frank Losee, and

H. Cooper Cliffe Henry Cooper Cliffe (19 July 1862 – 1 May 1939) was a British stage and screen actor a member of a distinguished family of English actors, his father was Clifford Cooper, mother Agnes Kemble, and his brother was Frank Kemble Cooper. Frank's da ...

. It is based on the 1913 play ''Half an Hour'' by

J. M. Barrie Sir James Matthew Barrie, 1st Baronet, (; 9 May 1860 19 June 1937) was a Scottish novelist and playwright, best remembered as the creator of Peter Pan. He was born and educated in Scotland and then moved to London, where he wrote several succ ...

. The film was released on September 19, 1920, 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 ...

, Lady Lillian Garson (Dalton), whose marriage to man of wealth Richard Garson (Richman) has been in name only and the result of parental pressure, decides after an unpleasant meeting with her husband to take up the proposal of Hugh Paton (Barrett) and go with him to Egypt. He is due to sail within half an hour of the time she made her decision, so she leaves a note for her husband, takes the jewels he has given her, and makes her way to Paton's quarters, which are "just across the square." Paton leaves his apartment to get a cab and is struck by an automobile and killed. Dr. George Brodie (Losee), a friend of her husband's whom she has not met, brings the body into the house. Lady Lillian returns to her home, hoping to cover up her secret. She is successful in this, though she meets Dr. Brodie at dinner with her husband, and the doctor does not disclose the facts of the case. Destroying the note she had left behind, she happily realizes for the first time the greatness of her husband's love for her.

Cast

as Lady Lillian Garson * Charles Richman as Richard Garson *Albert L. Barrett as Hugh Paton * Frank Losee as Dr. George Brodie *

as Earl of Westford

References

External links

* 1920 films 1920s English-language films Silent American drama films 1920 drama films Paramount Pictures films Films based on works by J. M. Barrie Films directed by Harley Knoles American black-and-white films American silent feature films 1920s American films {{1920s-silent-drama-film-stub