''Lena Rivers'', aka ''The Sin of Lena Rivers'', is a 1932 American

pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was the brief era in the Cinema of the United States, American film industry between the widespread adoption of sound in film in 1929LaSalle (2002), p. 1. and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorshi ...

drama film directed by

Phil Rosen Philip E. Rosen (May 8, 1888 – October 22, 1951) was an American film director and cinematographer. He directed more than 140 films between 1915 and 1949. He was born in Marienburg, German Empire (now, Malbork, Poland), grew up in Ma ...

based on the 1856 novel by

Mary Jane Holmes Mary Jane Holmes (April 5, 1825 – October 6, 1907) was an American author who published 39 novels, as well as short stories. Her first novel sold 250,000 copies; and she had total sales of 2 million books in her lifetime, second only to Harriet ...

. Filmed on several occasions throughout the

silent era A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, wh ...

.The AFI Catalog of Feature Films:''..Lena Rivers''
/ref>

Plot

Lena's mother dies at her birth, and she is raised by her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Nichols. Lena has never known her father. When she is a teenager, Mr. Nichols dies and Lena and her grandmother go to live with her uncle and the son of the grandmother in Kentucky. John's wife, Matilda, is not at all happy about their coming, and holds it against Lena that she was born out of wedlock. John's daughter, Caroline, thinks Lena is "common" and doesn't include her socially. Upon their arrival, they meet a neighbor, Mr. Graham, who takes an obvious interest in Lena. Mr. Graham, while showing Lena his horses, explains to her that she reminds him of a girl he was in love with a long time ago. But he lost that girl, while he was away, because she thought he had left her. Lena discovers she has a natural affinity with horses when she is able to calm a frisky horse, Brimstone. Mr. Graham gives Brimstone to Lena. Lena becomes friends with Mr. Graham's ward, Durrie. Mr. Graham and Lena become good friends, and it turns out that Mr. Graham is Lena's father. He is afraid to tell her, because Lena has learned to hate the father she's never known. In order to help her financially, Mr. Graham fixes a race so that Brimstone wins. Lena's grandmother dies, leaving Lena feel all alone. Conflicts are resolved and happy endings prevail.

Cast

Charlotte Henry Charlotte Virginia Henry (March 3, 1914 – April 11, 1980) was an American actress who is best remembered for her roles in '' Alice in Wonderland'' (1933) and '' Babes in Toyland'' (1934). She also starred in the Frank Buck serial ''Jun ...

- Lena Rivers *Morgan Galloway - Durrie Belmont *

Beryl Mercer Beryl Mercer (August 13, 1882 – July 28, 1939) was a Spanish-born American actress of stage and screen who was based in the United States. Early years Beryl Mercer was born to British parents in Seville on 13 August 1882. Her father wa ...

- Grandmother Nichols * James Kirkwood - Henry R. Graham *

John St. Polis John M. St. Polis (born John Marie Sainpolis; November 24, 1873 – October 8, 1946) was an American actor. Biography St. Polis was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Before starting his film career, he made a name for himself on the Broadway ...

- John Nichols *

Betty Blythe Betty Blythe (born Elizabeth Blythe Slaughter; September 1, 1893 – April 7, 1972) was an American actress best known for her dramatic roles in exotic silent films such as ''The Queen of Sheba'' (1921). She appeared in 63 silent films and 56 t ...

- Mrs. Mathilda Nichols *

Joyce Compton Olivia Joyce Compton (January 27, 1907 – October 13, 1997) was an American actress. Biography Compton was born in Lexington, Kentucky, the daughter of Henry and Golden Compton. (Despite frequent reports to the contrary, her name was not ...

- Caroline Nichols * Russell Simpson - Grandfather Nichols *

Clarence Muse Clarence Muse (October 14, 1889 – October 13, 1979) was an American actor, screenwriter, director, singer, and composer. He was the first African American to appear in a starring role in a film, 1929's ''Hearts in Dixie''. He acted for ...

- Curfew * John Larkin - Lucifer 'Lucy' Jones *The Kentucky Singers - Choir Singers (*Kentucky Jubilee Singers)

References

External links

* * 1932 films Films based on American novels Films directed by Phil Rosen Tiffany Pictures films 1932 drama films American drama films American black-and-white films 1930s American films 1930s English-language films {{1930s-drama-film-stub