''Over the Hill to the Poorhouse'', also known as ''Over the Hill'', is a 1920 American
silent 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 ...
about a woman who has a lot of children, and who never gets the chance to enjoy life. The film starred actress
Mary Carr
Mary Carr (née Kenevan; March 14, 1874 – June 24, 1973), was an American film actress and was married to the actor William Carr. She appeared in more than 140 films between 1915 and 1956. She was given some of filmdoms plum mother roles in ...
and almost all of her real-life children.
The film was directed by
Harry Millarde
Harry F. Millarde (November 12, 1885 – November 2, 1931) was a pioneer American silent film actor and director.
Biography
Millarde was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and began his acting in film in 1913 with Kalem Studios in New York City. In 19 ...
, released by
Fox Film Corporation
The Fox Film Corporation (also known as Fox Studios) was an American Independent film production studio formed by William Fox (1879–1952) in 1915, by combining his earlier Greater New York Film Rental Company and Box Office Attractions Film C ...
, and was a box office success in 1920.
The story was previously filmed as ''Over the Hill to the Poorhouse'' (1908), starring
Florence Auer
Florence Auer (March 3, 1880 – May 14, 1962) was an American theater and motion picture actress whose career spanned more than five decades.
Life and career
Born in Albany, New York, Auer began her career on East Coast stages at the turn ...
. It was remade as ''
Over the Hill'' (1931), starring
Mae Marsh
Mae Marsh (born Mary Wayne Marsh; November 9, 1894U.S. Census records for 1900, El Paso, Texas, Sheet No. 6 – February 13, 1968) was an American film actress with a career spanning over 50 years.
Early life
Mae Marsh was born Mary Wayne M ...
, and as ''Tears of a Mother'' (1937). The 1920 silent film is preserved at Bois d'Arcy in France.
The Library of Congress Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: ''Over the Hill to the Poorhouse''
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Cast
*Mary Carr
Mary Carr (née Kenevan; March 14, 1874 – June 24, 1973), was an American film actress and was married to the actor William Carr. She appeared in more than 140 films between 1915 and 1956. She was given some of filmdoms plum mother roles in ...
as Ma Benton
*James Sheridan as Child Isaac (billed as Sheridan Tansey)
*Noel Tearle as Adult Isaac
*Stephen Carr as Child Thomas
* William Welsh as Pa Benton
*Jerry Devine as Child John
*Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker is a brand of Scotch whisky now owned by Diageo that originated in the Scottish burgh of Kilmarnock in East Ayrshire. The brand was first established by grocer John Walker. It is the most widely distributed brand of blended Sc ...
as Adult John (billed as John Walker)
*James Sheldon
Leonard James Schleifer (November 12, 1920 – March 12, 2016) was an American television director.
Sheldon directed for television programs including '' The Twilight Zone'', '' The Fugitive'', '' The Donna Reed Show'', '' The Millionaire'', '' ...
as Child Charles
*Wallace Ray as Adult Charles
*Rosemary Carr as Child Rebecca
*Phyllis Diller as Adult Rebecca (this Phyllis Diller is not the TV comedian)
*Maybeth Carr as Child Susan
*Louella Carr as Adult Susan
*Vivienne Osborne
Vivienne Osborne (born Vera Vivienne Spragg; December 10, 1896 – June 10, 1961) was an American stage and film actress known for her work in Broadway theatre and in silent and sound films.
Career
Osborne began her career on stage when s ...
as Isabella Strong
*Dorothy Allen
Dorothy Allen (October 23, 1896 – September 30, 1970) was an American actress principally active in the 1920s.
Born in Houston, Texas, Allen landed her first roles in 1918 and acted in several Poverty Row films through 1925. as Agulitia
*Edna Murphy
Edna Murphy (November 17, 1899 – August 3, 1974) was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 80 films between 1918 and 1933. Murphy was voted "Most Photographed Movie Star of 1925" by '' ScreenLand Magazine''.
For part of ...
as Lucy
*Joseph Donohoe as Undetermined role
*John T. Dwyer as Adult Thomas
See also
*List of Fox Film films
This is a list of feature films produced by the Fox Film Corporation, including those films produced by its corporate predecessor, the Box Office Attractions Company. Some of the later films in this list were produced by Fox Film, but were release ...
References
External links
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Cinematographer Hal Sintzenich and director Harry Millarde (holding megaphone) with cast and crew
Lobby poster for the film
(courtesy Zoverhill)
1920 films
American silent feature films
Films based on poems
Fox Film films
1920 drama films
Silent American drama films
American black-and-white films
Films directed by Harry F. Millarde
1920s American films
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