''His Mother's Boy'' is a 1917 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 ...
directed by
Victor Schertzinger
Victor L. Schertzinger (April 8, 1888 – October 26, 1941) was an American composer, film director, film producer, and screenwriter. His films include '' Paramount on Parade'' (co-director, 1930), ''Something to Sing About'' (1937) with James C ...
and written by Ella Stuart Carson. The film stars
Charles Ray,
Doris May
Doris May (born Helen Garrett; October 15, 1902 – May 12, 1984), was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 29 films between 1917 and 1927, generally as a leading lady. Most of her roles were in westerns and comedies, althoug ...
,
William Elmer
William Elmer (April 25, 1869 – February 24, 1945) was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in more than 80 films between 1913 and 1942. He was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa and died in Hollywood, California. Elmer acted in ...
,
Josef Swickard,
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
Gertrude Claire
Gertrude Claire (July 16, 1852 – April 28, 1928) was an actress of the American stage and Hollywood silent motion pictures.
Biography
Claire was born in Chicago, Illinois, and began appearing onstage at the age of 16. She played minor roles ...
. It is based on the short story "Where Life is Marked Down" by
Rupert Hughes
Rupert Raleigh Hughes (January 31, 1872 – September 9, 1956) was an American novelist, film director, Oscar-nominated screenwriter, military officer, and music composer. He was the brother of Howard R. Hughes Sr. and uncle of billionaire Howa ...
. The film was released on December 24, 1917, 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 ...
, Matthew Denton (Ray) finds out that, because the Centipede oil wells do not pay a dividend, the villagers consider his father to be a swindler. He leaves his mother and New England home to go to Centipede, Texas, to ascertain the cause of the shortage of oil. He becomes an employee under the direction of Banty Jones (Elmer), foreman of the wells, and a crook. He falls in love with Mabel Glenny (May), whom Jones considers to be his "gal." When Mabel shows Matthew her engagement ring, Jones gives him a specified amount of time to get out of town. However, Matthew has found a valve that causes oil to be diverted to another company. He also learns that Jones is receiving the benefit from these stolen oil sales. A fight breaks out between the two men with Matthew the winner. Jones, humiliated, leaves, and Mabel is proud of Matthew. Back home the villagers are happy that the oil wells are safe and that dividends will be forthcoming again.
Cast
Reception
Like many American films of the time, ''His Mother's Boy'' was subject to cuts by
city and state film censorship boards. The Chicago Board of Censors required a cut of the shooting of a man in the barroom, the intertitle "Well, he can have you when I get through with you", and two closeups of men in a fight where Matthew bites the man's hand, Matthew is thrown against the wall, and Matthew shoots the man.
References
External links
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1917 films
1910s English-language films
Silent American drama films
1917 drama films
Paramount Pictures films
Films directed by Victor Schertzinger
American black-and-white films
Films based on works by Rupert Hughes
American silent feature films
1910s American films
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