''Mary's Ankle'' is a 1920 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

Lloyd Ingraham Lloyd Chauncey Ingraham (November 30, 1874 – April 4, 1956) was an American film actor and director. Biography Born in Rochelle, Illinois, Ingraham appeared in more than 280 films between 1912 and 1950, as well as directing more than 100 f ...

and written by

Luther Reed Luther A. Reed (July 14, 1888 – November 16, 1961) was an American screenwriter and film director. Biography Reed was born in 1888 in Berlin, Wisconsin, and graduated from Columbia University. He worked as a journalist and the music and the ...

based upon the play of the same name by May Tully. The film stars

Douglas MacLean Charles Douglas MacLean (January 10, 1890 – July 9, 1967) was an American stage and silent film actor who later worked as a producer and screenwriter in the sound era. Early life and stage career Born in Philadelphia, MacLean was educated at ...

Doris May Doris May (born Helen Garrett; October 15, 1902 – May 12, 1984), was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 29 films between 1917 and 1927, generally as a leading lady. Most of her roles were in western film, westerns and come ...

Victor Potel Victor Potel (October 12, 1889 – March 8, 1947) was an American film character actor who began in the silent era and appeared in more than 430 films in his 38-year career. Career Victor Potel was born in Lafayette, Indiana in 1889, and his ...

Neal Burns Neal (Neil) is a given masculine name and surname of Gaelic and Irish origin. The name is an Anglicisation of the Irish Niall which is of disputed derivation. The Irish name may be derived from words meaning "cloud", "passionate", "victory", "hon ...

, James Gordon, and

Lizette Thorne Lizette Thorne (24 November 1882 – 3 November 1970) was an English-born silent film actress. She starred in 45 films in her career, including '' The Thoroughbred'' and '' The Bruiser'' with actress Charlotte Burton. Thorne's film career be ...

. The film was released on February 29, 1920, by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

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 ...

, Dr. Arthur P. Hampton (MacLean), a struggling young physician, announces his marriage to a fictitious "Mary Jane Smith" in an effort to get his wealthy uncle George P. Hampton (Gordon) to give him and his two friends, a lawyer and a broker, sufficient funds to get them out of financial difficulties. He then finds himself in a difficult position when an injured young woman is brought to his office for treatment proves to be Mary Jane Smith (May) and his uncle appears to meet the bride. Mary consents to a temporary deception. Matters become complicated when the uncle insists on their accompanying him on a trip to Hawaii and informs them that he is to marry a Miss Burns (Thorne), who is Mary's aunt. The troubles of Arthur and Mary become acute on the ship. Finally, an explanation results in forgiveness, and they make the trip a honeymoon by having the ship's captain marry them.

Cast

as Dr. Arthur P. Hampton *

as Mary Jane Smith *

as Johnny Stokes *

as Stub Masters * James Gordon as George P. Hampton *

as Angelica Burns * Ida Lewis as Mrs. Merrivale (*Ida Lewis 1855–1935; not Julia Arthur)

Preservation status

A copy of the film is in 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 ...

.''Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress'', (<-book title) p.113 c.1978 the American Film Institute

References

External links

*
Film still
at silenthollywood.com 1920 films 1920s English-language films Silent American comedy films 1920 comedy films Paramount Pictures films Films directed by Lloyd Ingraham American black-and-white films American silent feature films 1920s American films {{1920s-silent-comedy-film-stub