''Jim the Penman'' is a 1921 American silent crime

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 by

Whitman Bennett Whitman Bennett (1883–1968) was an American film producer and director of the silent era.Munden p.34 Selected filmography * ''The Truth About Husbands'' (1920) * ''The Devil's Garden'' (1920) * '' The Master Mind'' (1920) * '' Salvation Nell'' ...

and distributed through Associated First National, later just

First National Pictures First National Pictures was an American motion picture production and distribution company. It was founded in 1917 as First National Exhibitors' Circuit, Inc., an association of independent theatre owners in the United States, and became the count ...

. It is based on a well known play, ''Jim the Penman'' by Charles Lawrence Young about a forger in

Victorian Victorian or Victorians may refer to: 19th century * Victorian era, British history during Queen Victoria's 19th-century reign ** Victorian architecture ** Victorian house ** Victorian decorative arts ** Victorian fashion ** Victorian literature ...

Britain. The film stars

Lionel Barrymore Lionel Barrymore (born Lionel Herbert Blythe; April 28, 1878 – November 15, 1954) was an American actor of stage, screen and radio as well as a film director. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in ''A Free Soul'' (1931) ...

and was directed by Kenneth Webb, the duo having worked on '' The Great Adventure'' previously. ''Jim the Penman'' is preserved though incomplete (reel 5 missing) at 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 ...

.The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: ''Jim The Penman''
/ref>

Plot

As described in a film publication summary, James "Jim" Ralston (Barrymore) is a forger who is in love with Nina (Rankin). His first attempt at forgery is upon a dance program, and he forges Nina's name for the last waltz. He offers to save Nina's father from ruin by forging a check. He is discovered by the owner of the check, but instead of turning him in, Baron Hartfeld (Randolf) forces Jim to work for him for the next twenty years. Nina is engaged to Louis Percival (MacPherson), but through notes forged by Jim they become estranged. Nina ends up marrying James although she does not love him. As the twenty-year period closes, Jim's daughter Louise is about to marry the son of an English banker that Jim is about to ruin. Just in time Percival, whom Jim has previously ruined, and Nina discover the forgery that separated them. Jim, realizing that he is trapped, ends it all by sinking a yacht after locking himself and his companions in the cabin.

Cast

as James Ralston *Ned Burton as Enoch Bronson * Charles Coghlan as Captain Redwood *James Laffey as E. J. Smith * Gladys Leslie as Agnes Ralston *Douglas MacPherson as Louis Percival * Anders Randolf as Baron Hartfeld *Arthur Rankin as Lord Drelincourt * Doris Rankin as Nina Bronson

References

External links

*
''Jim the Penman''; allmovie.com / synopsisLobby card
an
film still
at the New York Public Library Digital Collections 1921 films American silent feature films American films based on plays American crime drama films 1921 crime drama films Films directed by Kenneth Webb Films set in England Films set in London First National Pictures films American black-and-white films 1921 drama films 1920s American films Silent American drama films {{silent-crime-drama-film-stub

Plot

Cast

See also

References

External links