''Java Head'' is a 1923 American silent romantic drama film directed by George Melford and starring

Leatrice Joy Leatrice Joy (born Leatrice Johanna Zeidler; November 7, 1893 – May 13, 1985) was an American actress most prolific during the silent film era. Early life Joy was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to dentist Edward Joseph Zeidler, who was o ...

Jacqueline Logan Jacqueline Medura Logan (November 30, 1902 – April 4, 1983) was an American actress and silent film star. Logan was a WAMPAS Baby Star of 1922. Early life Logan was born in Corsicana, Texas, on November 30, 1902, the only child to Charles A. ...

, Frederick Strong,

Alan Roscoe Alan Roscoe (born John Albert Rascoe; August 23, 1888 – March 8, 1933) was an American film actor of the silent and early talking film eras. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1915 and 1933. Roscoe was born John Albert Rascoe ...

, and

Betty Bronson Elizabeth Ada Bronson (November 17, 1906 – October 19, 1971) was an American film and television actress who began her career during the silent film era. Early years Bronson was born in Trenton, New Jersey, to Frank and Nellie Smith Brons ...

in a bit part. It is based on a popular novel of the same name by

Joseph Hergesheimer Joseph Hergesheimer (February 15, 1880 – April 25, 1954) was an American writer of the early 20th century known for his naturalistic novels of decadent life amongst the very wealthy. Early life Hergesheimer was born on February 15, 1880 Phi ...

,Progressive Silent Film List: ''Java Head''
at silentera.com which in turn is named after the

geographical feature A feature (also called an object or entity), in the context of geography and geographic information science, is a discrete phenomenon that exists at a location in the space and scale of relevance to geography; that is, at or near the surface of Ea ...

. ''Java Head'' was remade in a 1934 British sound film starring

Anna May Wong Wong Liu Tsong (January 3, 1905 – February 3, 1961), known professionally as Anna May Wong, was an American actress, considered the first Chinese-American movie star in Hollywood, as well as the first Chinese-American actress to gain interna ...

which was released by

Associated Talking Pictures Associated may refer to: *Associated, former name of Avon, Contra Costa County, California * Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto, a school in Canada *Associated Newspapers, former name of DMG Media, a British publishing company See also *Associati ...

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 ...

, during the late 1840s wealthy retired sea captain Jeremy Ammidon (Strong) lives with his children and grandchildren in a house known as "Java Head" in Salem, Massachusetts. Jeremy's son William (Hall) manages the family business. Gerrit Ammidon (Roscoe), skipper of the Nautilus in its oriental trade, loves Nettie Vollar (Logan), a granddaughter of Barzil Dunsack (Fawcett), an enemy of Jeremy. Barzil orders Gerrit out of his house. In China, Gerrit rescues Taou Yuen (Joy) from a gang of ruffians. Her father, a Manchu noble, orders the two to be wed or slain. Gerrit marries Taou and brings her to Salem where her appearance causes consternation among the Ammidon family and Nettie to become ill. Edward Dunsack (Hatton), a drug addict, is fascinated by Taou and tries to turn her mind against Gerrit. Edward tells her that Gerrit loves Nettie, whom she has seen at a party, but Taou repulses him. Nettie learns that Gerrit still loves her and is visited by Taou, who then takes an overdose of opium and dies. Nettie and Gerrit are wed and sail away on the Nautilus.

Cast

as Taou Yuen *

as Nettie Vollar *Frederick Strong as Jeremy Ammidon *

as Gerrit Ammidon (probably credited as Albert Roscoe) *Arthur Stuart Hall as William Ammidon *

Rose Tapley Rose Elizabeth Tapley (June 30, 1881 – February 23, 1956) was an American actress of the stage and an early heroine of silent films. Early life Tapley was born in Salem, Massachusetts. She was the cousin of Captain Robert Bartlett, comm ...

as Rhoda Ammidon *Violet Axzelle as Laurel Ammidon *Audrey Berry as Sisall Ammidon *Polly Archer as Camilla Ammidon *

as Janet Ammidon *

George Fawcett George Fawcett (August 25, 1860 – June 6, 1939) was an American stage and film actor of the silent era. Biography Born in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1860, Fawcett graduated from the University of Virginia. His initial inclination was to ...

as Barzil Dunsack *

Raymond Hatton Raymond William Hatton (July 7, 1887 – October 21, 1971) was an American film actor who appeared in almost 500 motion pictures. Biography Hatton was born in Red Oak, Iowa. His physician father steered him toward a career in medicine. Howev ...

as Edward Dunsack *

Helen Lindroth Helen Lindroth (December 3, 1874 – October 5, 1956) was a Swedish-born American screen and stage actress. Biography Lindroth acted on stage with the Boston Museum Stock Company and in New York City before entering motion pictures with the ...

as Kate Vollar *Dan Pennell as Broadrick *George S. Stevens as The Butler *Mimi Sherwood as The Maid *Frances Hatton as The Nurse

Production notes

Exterior scenes were shot on location in

Salem, Massachusetts Salem ( ) is a historic coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, located on the North Shore of Greater Boston. Continuous settlement by Europeans began in 1626 with English colonists. Salem would become one of the most significant seaports tr ...

, where the film is also set.

Preservation

No copies of ''Java Head'' are listed in any film archives,Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: ''Java Head''
/ref> which suggests that it is a lost film.

Gallery

Java Head (1923) - 2.jpg, Film poster Java Head (1923) - Joy.jpg, Film still with Leatrice Joy Java Head (1923) - 1.jpg, Jacqueline Logan and Leatrice Joy Filming of Java Head, 1922.jpg, Filming on Hardy Street in Salem, October 1922

References

External links

* *
Lobby posterForeign release poster
{{DEFAULTSORT:Java Head (1923 Film) 1923 films 1923 romantic drama films American romantic drama films American silent feature films American black-and-white films Famous Players-Lasky films Films based on romance novels Films set in Massachusetts Films shot in New York City Films shot in Massachusetts Paramount Pictures films Films based on American novels Films directed by George Melford 1920s American films Silent romantic drama films Silent American drama films