''It Pays to Advertise'' is a 1919 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

Donald Crisp Donald William Crisp (27 July 188225 May 1974) was an English film actor as well as an early producer, director and screenwriter. His career lasted from the early silent film era into the 1960s. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor ...

and written by

Elmer Blaney Harris Elmer Blaney Harris (January 11, 1878 – September 6, 1966) was an American author, dramatist, and playwright. Biography Harris was born in Chicago, Illinois as the youngest of eight children. He moved with his family to Oakland, Californ ...

based upon a

play of the same name Play most commonly refers to: * Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment * Play (theatre), a work of drama Play may refer also to: Computers and technology * Google Play, a digital content service * Play Framework, a Java framework * Pla ...

Roi Cooper Megrue Roi Cooper Megrue (June 12, 1882 – February 27, 1927) was an American playwright, producer, and director active on Broadway from 1914 to 1921. Biography Roi Cooper Megrue was born on June 12, 1882, in New York City, the son of the son of Frank ...

and

Walter C. Hackett Walter C. Hackett (November 10, 1876 – January 20, 1944) was an American-British playwright. Biography Several of his stage works (such as ''Ambrose Applejohn's Adventure'', ''The Freedom of the Seas'', ''The Regeneration'', ''Hyde Park Corne ...

. The film stars

Bryant Washburn Franklin Bryant Washburn III (April 28, 1889 – April 30, 1963) was an American film actor who appeared in more than 370 films between 1911 and 1947. Washburn's parents were Franklin Bryant Washburn II and Metha Catherine Johnson Washburn. He a ...

, Lois Wilson,

Frank Currier Frank Currier (September 4, 1857 – April 22, 1928) was an American film and stage actor and director of the silent era. Career Similar to Theodore Roberts, Kate Lester, Ida Waterman, and William H. Crane, Currier had a long and successfu ...

Walter Hiers Walter Hiers (July 18, 1893 – February 27, 1933) was an American silent film actor. Biography Born in 1893, during his two decade-long acting career spanning from 1912 to 1932, Hiers acted in 101 films. He was a particularly prolific actor w ...

Clarence Geldart Clarence Geldart (June 9, 1867 – May 13, 1935) was an American film actor. He appeared in 127 films between 1915 and 1936. He was sometimes credited as C.H. Geldart or Charles H. Geldart. He was born in New Brunswick, Canada, and died i ...

, and

Julia Faye Julia Faye Maloney (September 24, 1892 – April 6, 1966), known professionally as Julia Faye, was an American actress of silent and sound films. She was known for her appearances in more than 30 Cecil B. DeMille productions. Her various roles ...

. The film was released on November 23, 1919, by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

. It is not known whether the film currently survives, and it may 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 ...

. The film was remade in

1931 Events January * January 2 – South Dakota native Ernest Lawrence invents the cyclotron, used to accelerate particles to study nuclear physics. * January 4 – German pilot Elly Beinhorn begins her flight to Africa. * January 22 – Sir I ...

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 ...

, Rodney Martin (Washburn) graduates from college with a splendid education and is surprised to find himself absolutely unprepared for a business career. However, business strangely attracts him, possible because of Mary Grayson (Wilson), his father's secretary, whom he thinks is the most proper thing in women. Since she is a businesswoman, he reasons that he must prove himself a business man. He decks out an office before he decides what line of business he will follow. A friend suggests the soap business. He straight away begins an advertising campaign that works wonders. However, the bills, when they arrive, overcome him and he faces disaster. His father comes to the rescue by appointing him as an advertising man in his organization, so all ends as it should.

Cast

as Rodney Martin * Lois Wilson as Mary Grayson *

as Cyrus Martin *

as Ambrose Peale *

as House Manager *

as Countess de Beaurien *

Guy Oliver George Guy Oliver (September 25, 1878 – September 1, 1932) was an American actor. He appeared in at least 189 silent film era motion pictures and 32 talkies in character roles between 1911 and 1931. His obituary gives him credit for at l ...

as McChesney

References

External links

* *
Film stills
at www.silentfilmstillarchive.com 1919 films 1910s English-language films Silent American drama films 1919 drama films Paramount Pictures films Films directed by Donald Crisp American black-and-white films American silent feature films American films based on plays 1910s American films {{1910s-drama-film-stub