''One of the Best'' is a 1927 British silent

historical History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

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-g ...

directed by T. Hayes Hunter and starring

Carlyle Blackwell Carlyle Blackwell (January 20, 1884 – June 17, 1955) was an American silent film actor, director and producer. Early years Blackwell was born in Troy, Pennsylvania. He studied at Cornell University before J. Stewart Blackton discovered him an ...

Walter Byron Jacob Walter "Wally" Byron (Jacob Valdimar Björnsson;September 2, 1894 – December 22, 1971) was an Icelandic-Canadian ice hockey player who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics. He was the goaltender for the Winnipeg Falcons, the Canadian ...

and

Eve Gray Eve Gray (27 November 1900 – 23 May 1983) was an English film actress. Born Fanny Evelyn Garrett, she was taken to Australia as a child and later had a stage career there. She returned to England in 1924 and within three days of arrival had ...

. It was based on a play by

Seymour Hicks Sir Edward Seymour Hicks (30 January 1871 – 6 April 1949), better known as Seymour Hicks, was a British actor, music hall performer, playwright, actor-manager and producer. He became known, early in his career, for writing, starring in and p ...

. Film historian

Rachael Low Rachael Low (6 July 1923 – 14 December 2014) was a British film historian, best known as the author of the seven-volume ''The History of the British Film''. The daughter of the cartoonist Sir David Low,Richards, Jeffrey. "Introduction" to Low ...

described it as an "unsophisticated

costume drama A historical drama (also period drama, costume drama, and period piece) is a work set in a past time period, usually used in the context of film and television. Historical drama includes historical fiction and romances, adventure films, and swas ...

".Low p.169 The '

drumming out Drumming out is the historical act of being dishonorably dismissed from military service to the sound of the Rogue's March or a drum. In modern figurative usage, it may refer to any act of expulsion or dismissal in disgrace. Origin One of the ea ...

' scene of Lieutenant Keppel was filmed at

Hounslow Barracks Cavalry Barracks is a former British Army installation located north of Hounslow Heath in Hounslow, west London. Hounslow was one of 40 new barracks established around the country in the wake of the French Revolution, to guard against the dual t ...

using the officers and men of the Royal Fusiliers wearing 1820s uniforms.

Cast

as Philip Ellsworth *

as Lieutenant Dudley Keppel *

as Mary Penrose *

Randle Ayrton Frederick Randle Ayrton (9 August 1869 – 28 May 1940) was a British actor of stage and screen, and was also a producer and director. Early life Ayrton was born in Chester to William Frances Ayrton, a wealthy wine-merchant who was a p ...

as General Gregg *

James Carew James Usselman (February 5, 1876 – April 4, 1938), known professionally as James Carew, was an American actor who appeared in many films, mainly in Britain. He was born in Goshen, Indiana in 1876 and began work as a clerk in a publishing fir ...

as Colonel Gentry *

Julie Suedo Julie Suedo (1901–1978) was a British actress. She played a succession of glamorous roles in the 1920s and 1930s, usually in supporting roles. Filmography *'' One Arabian Night'' (1923) *'' The Rat'' (1925) *'' One Colombo Night'' (1926) *'' ...

as Claire Melville * James Lindsay as Maurice de Gruchy *

Pauline Johnson Emily Pauline Johnson (10 March 1861 – 7 March 1913), also known by her Mohawk stage name ''Tekahionwake'' (pronounced ''dageh-eeon-wageh'', ), was a Canadian poet, author, and performer who was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centur ...

as Esther *

Elsa Lanchester Elsa Sullivan Lanchester (28 October 1902 – 26 December 1986) was a British-American actress with a long career in theatre, film and television.Obituary ''Variety'', 31 December 1986. Lanchester studied dance as a child and after the Fir ...

as Kitty * Charles Emerald as Private Jupp * Cecil Barry as Lieutenant Wynne *

Simeon Stuart Simeon Stuart (15 May 1864 – 25 November 1939) was a British film actor of the silent era. Selected filmography * '' Snow in the Desert'' (1919) * '' The Lady Clare'' (1919) * '' The Face at the Window'' (1920) * ''Inheritance'' (1920) * '' ...

as Squire Penrose *

Harold Huth Harold Huth (20 January 1892 – 26 October 1967) was a British actor, film director and producer. Biography Early life He was born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, in 1892. He was a nephew of Eva Moore and a cousin of the actor Roland Pertwee. Fo ...

as Adjutant

References

Bibliography

* Low, Rachael. ''The History of British Film, Volume 4 1918-1929''. Routledge, 1997.

External links

* 1927 films 1920s historical films British historical films British mystery drama films British silent feature films Films directed by T. Hayes Hunter British films based on plays Gainsborough Pictures films Films set in the 1820s Films set in England British black-and-white films 1920s mystery drama films 1927 drama films 1920s English-language films 1920s British films Silent drama films Silent mystery films {{historic-film-stub