''Handcuffs or Kisses'' is a 1921 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

George Archainbaud George Archainbaud (May 7, 1890 – February 20, 1959) was a French-American film and television director. Biography In the beginning of his career he worked on stage as an actor and manager. He came to the United States in January 1914, and s ...

and starring

Elaine Hammerstein Elaine Hammerstein (June 16, 1894 – August 13, 1948) was an American silent film and stage actress. Early life Elaine Hammerstein was born on June 16, 1894 in Manhattan, the daughter of Jean Allison Hammerstein and opera producer Arthur Ham ...

Julia Swayne Gordon Julia Swayne Gordon (born Sarah Victoria Smith; October 29, 1878 – May 28, 1933) was an American actress who appeared in at least 228 films between 1908 and 1933. Early years Gordon was born in Columbus, Ohio, to Louis and Anna Smith and wa ...

, and Dorothy Chappell. It was future

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

star

Ronald Colman Ronald Charles Colman (9 February 1891 – 19 May 1958) was an English-born actor, starting his career in theatre and silent film in his native country, then immigrating to the United States and having a successful Hollywood film career. He wa ...

's first film in America. This is presumed 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 ...

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 ...

, Lois Walton (Hammerstein) is sent to a reformatory by scheming relatives and when she protests of the ill treatment of a weaker sister, she is flogged and dipped in ice cold baths. An investigation into the institution's affairs is conducted but the inmates are intimidated and dare not testify against the matron. Doris is sent to the home of a physician as a domestic worker, but she leaves after the doctor attempts to embrace her. She is befriended by a lawyer on the investigating committee, but, fearing to compromise him, she again escapes and is given a home by a woman that runs a gambling den. The young lawyer runs into her again and offers her marriage and a home, which she accepts.

Cast

References

Bibliography

* Richard Koszarski. ''Hollywood on the Hudson: Film and Television in New York from Griffith to Sarnoff''. Rutgers University Press, 2008.

External links

* * 1921 films 1921 drama films Silent American drama films Films directed by George Archainbaud 1920s English-language films American black-and-white films American silent feature films Lost American films Selznick Pictures films 1921 lost films Lost drama films 1920s American films {{1920s-silent-drama-film-stub