''His Own Law'' 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 ...

, produced and directed by J. Parker Read, Jr., and released by

Goldwyn Pictures Goldwyn Pictures Corporation was an American motion picture production company that operated from 1916 to 1924 when it was merged with two other production companies to form the major studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was founded on November 19, 1 ...

. Starring

Hobart Bosworth Hobart Van Zandt Bosworth (August 11, 1867 – December 30, 1943) was an American film actor, director, writer, and producer. Early life Bosworth was born on August 11, 1867, in Marietta, Ohio. His father was a sea captain in the Civil Wa ...

, the film survives in the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library is ...

.''Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress'', p.80 c.1978 by The American Film Institute

Plot

As summarized in a Film Daily, J.C. MacNeir (Hobart Bosworth), a construction engineer of repute, becomes attached to young French engineer Jean Saval (Rowland V. Lee), whom he meets during one of the drunken sprees he indulges in between jobs. After a night spent in cheap lodging, MacNeir takes Saval home with him and then to the next job in Chinook. Here Saval falls in love with Sylvia Harris (Jean Calhoun). After he is suddenly called up for French military service, and with no one to marry them, Saval pledges his faith and gives Sylvia a wedding ring. When MacNeir hears that Saval has been killed in battle, he marries Sylvia so that his friend's child will have a name and father. They are happy together as Saval becomes less distinct in Sylvia's memory. Then, after four years in a German prison, Saval returns and initially denounces MacNeir, who has sacrificed everything to protect Sylvia and her child. Saval gradually learns the truth and, convinced that Sylvia loves MacNeir, determines to leave. MacNeir says that he must be the one to go and, although he is very much in love with Sylvia, tells "Frenchy" that he has always considered Sylvia to be Saval's wife. The two men decide to leave the decision to the woman. Although she has tremendous regard for MacNeir, Sylvia's heart forces her to choose Saval. MacNeir congratulates the two of them through his tears.

Cast

- J.C. MacNeir * Rowland V. Lee - Jean Saval *

Jean Calhoun Jean Calhoun (April 1, 1891 – August 25, 1958) was an American film actress whose career was most prolific during the silent film era. She was a descendant of Martin Jenkins Crawford (March 17, 1820 – July 23, 1883), an antebellum U.S. Repres ...

- Sylvia ''unbilled'' *

Frank Brownlee Frank Brownlee (October 11, 1874 – February 10, 1948) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 110 films between 1911 and 1943. He was born in Dallas, Texas and died in Los Angeles, California. Selected filmography * '' Sol ...

References

External links

* * 1920 films American silent feature films Films based on short fiction Goldwyn Pictures films 1920 drama films Silent American drama films American black-and-white films 1920s American films {{1920s-silent-drama-film-stub