Madame Behave
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''Madame Behave'' is a 1925 American silent
comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...
directed by
Scott Sidney Scott Sidney (1872 – 20 July 1928), born Harry Wilbur Siggins, was an American film director. He directed 117 films between 1913 and 1927. He died in London, England, United Kingdom. Selected filmography Director * ''The Adventures of ...
starring cross-dressing actor
Julian Eltinge Julian Eltinge (May 14, 1881 – March 7, 1941), born William Julian Dalton, was an American stage and film actor and female impersonator. After appearing in the Boston Cadets Revue at the age of ten in feminine garb, Eltinge garnered notic ...
. The film is an adaptation of the play ''Madame Lucy'' by Jean Arlette and was produced by Al Christie with distribution through
Producers Distributing Corporation Producers Distributing Corporation was a short-lived Hollywood film distribution company, organized in 1924 and dissolved in March 1927. In its brief heyday, film director Cecil B. DeMille was its primary shareholder and major talent. Corporat ...
(or PDC).


Cast


Summary

Jack Mitchell and Dick Corwin are two roommates who are late on their rent. If they cannot pay their landlord, Henry Jasper, he will kick them out of their apartment. Jack does not get paid for his architecture plans yet and Dick has already spent his inheritance. Jack and Dick leave to see Dick’s uncle, Seth Corwin, at the courthouse. Henry is suing Seth for crashing his car into Henry’s vehicle. The main witness to the accident is an unknown woman. With the main witness missing, the judge overseeing the case postpones the trial for two weeks. Seth Corwin's lawyer advises him to find the woman who witnessed the accident and marry her. Jasper overhears this and decides that he will try to marry the woman first. If Henry Jasper marries her, he can make her testify against Corwin. If Seth Corwin marries her, she cannot testify against him. After the trial, Jack and Dick ask Seth for money to pay their rent before they get kicked out. Jack takes the money Seth lends him for rent and uses it to buy an engagement ring for Gwen Townley. Gwen is under the care of Seth Corwin and she is engaged to another man named Percy Fairweather. She does not like Percy but is instead in love with Jack Mitchell. Jack tries to climb up to her balcony to give her the ring and Seth calls a policeman over to stop him. The policeman chases Jack to the apartments where Jack hides and pretends to be a woman. Dick introduces Jack as Madame Brown to Seth and Henry and tells them that Madame Brown is the one that witnessed the accident. Shenanigans ensue as Seth and Henry attempt to woo "Madame Brown" and race to marry her. Later in the week, the policeman figures out Madame Brown's true identity. Before the policeman can arrest Jack, Gwen clears up the issue with him. The couple then runs off to get married. Seth and Henry return to the apartments shortly after and are informed that the judge has thrown out the case because the witness is still missing. Seth is also informed that Gwen and Jack have run off to get married. The original manuscript mentions a final, double wedding scene in a church with Jack, Ann, Dick, and Evelyn.


Marketing

''Madame Behave'' was marketed using the phrase "She's a Cousin to Charley's Aunt," a reference to a 1925 comedy film which also featured cross-dressing. This phrase appears in historical newspapers such as the ''Los Angeles Times'' and the ''Evening Telegraph''. Julian Eltinge, known for his female impersonation act, is used to advertise the film. Ann Pennington's name is also used to advertise the film.


Preservation

''Madame Behave'' survives as an incomplete print 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 ...
.''Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress'', p. 109, c.1978 by the American Film Institute


See also

*
List of partially lost films A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to: People * List (surname) Organizations * List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America * SC Germania List, German rugby unio ...


References


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Madame Behave 1925 films American silent feature films American films based on plays Silent American comedy films American black-and-white films Films directed by Scott Sidney Producers Distributing Corporation films 1925 comedy films 1920s American films