''Jack O'Clubs'' is a 1924 American silent

crime drama film In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definitions of", in Can ...

directed by

Robert F. Hill Robert F. Hill (April 14, 1886 – March 18, 1966) was a Canadian film director, screenwriter, and actor. Career Bob Hill began his screen career in 1915 at Universal Pictures. In those early days, members of film crews were sometimes c ...

and starring

Herbert Rawlinson Herbert Banemann Rawlinson (15 November 1885 – 12 July 1953) was an English-born stage, film, radio, and television actor. A leading man during Hollywood's silent film era, Rawlinson transitioned to character roles after the advent of sound f ...

Esther Ralston Esther Ralston (born Esther Louise Worth, September 17, 1902 – January 14, 1994) was an iconic American silent film star. Her most prominent sound picture was '' To the Last Man'' in 1933. Early life and career Ralston was born Esther Loui ...

, and

Eddie Gribbon Eddie Gribbon (January 3, 1890 – September 29, 1965) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 180 films from the 1910s to the 1950s. Gribbon began working in Mack Sennett films in 1916 and continued through the 1920s. He usuall ...

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 ...

, the dogged determination and big heart of an Irish patrolman prove victorious in his lone battle for love and honor. John Francis Foley (Rawlinson), known as "Jack 0' Clubs," has managed by daring and fistic prowess to gain the respect of the hardened characters of his beat on the East Side of New York. Tillie Miller (Dwyer), a little café singer, attracts him. She is the sweetheart of Spike Kennedy (Gribbon), supreme gang leader, who bears "Jack O' Clubs" a deep, unsatisfied grudge for his successful reform measures to clean up the neighborhood. Spike and Jack are prevented by Captain Dennis Malloy (Girard) of the police district from using their fists to settle their difference of opinion regarding Tillie. The police officer hears Tillie singing one night and is a captive at once. He tries to meet her, but she, thinking he is the betrayer of her sweetheart's pals, repulses him. Later she relents, after a furious quarrel with Spike. Queenie Hatch (Ralston), one of the popular girls of the district, resents Tillie's popularity. Queenie also is in love with Spike, but fails to arouse his interest. This enrages her and she deliberately stages a quarrel with Tillie while the café singer is entertaining her enthusiastic audience. Tillie retaliates for Queenie's insulting remarks and the two girls have a fight, which quickly develops into a general melee. Jack attempts, single-handed, to settle the affray. Surrounded by a gang of hard-hitting ruffians, the policeman raises his club in defense, just as Spike Kennedy is about to blackjack him. Tillie rushes forward and received Jack's blow. In the excitement every one is only too ready to believe the officer struck the girl, which is gang leader Spike's version of the fray. Jack is accused of being her assailant. "Jack 0' Clubs" has no way of proving his innocence and is severely reprimanded by his superiors. For days Tillie hovers on the brink of death. Jack visits Tillie at the hospital and convinces her of his innocence, at the same time winning her love. How he wins back his honor and position with the police force and proves his love for Tillie brings the story to a conclusion.

Cast

Preservation

With no prints of ''Jack O'Clubs'' located in any film archives,Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: ''Jack o' Clubs''
/ref> it is 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 ...

References

Bibliography

* Munden, Kenneth White. ''The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States, Part 1''. University of California Press, 1997.

External links

* 1924 films 1924 crime films 1920s English-language films American silent feature films American crime films American black-and-white films Films directed by Robert F. Hill Universal Pictures films 1920s American films {{Silent-film-stub