''Slippy McGee'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Wesley Ruggles and based on the book ''Slippy McGee: Sometimes Known as the Butterfly Man'' by Marie Conway Oemler that was published in 1917. The film was an Oliver Morosco Production released by

Associated First National First National Pictures was an American motion picture production and distribution company. It was founded in 1917 as First National Exhibitors' Circuit, Inc., an association of independent theatre owners in the United States, and became the count ...

and featured actress

Colleen Moore Colleen Moore (born Kathleen Morrison; August 19, 1899 – January 25, 1988) was an American film actress who began her career during the silent film era. Moore became one of the most fashionable (and highly-paid) stars of the era and helped po ...

as Mary Virginia. It is not known whether the film survives.

Plot

The title is also the moniker of a renowned safe-cracker, Slippy McGee, who has always managed to evade capture until his latest job, when he is wounded. He escapes aboard a freight train, bound for parts unknown, and finds himself in the town of Appleborro. There, he is discovered and cared for by Father De Rance and Mary Virginia. His leg is amputated, and during his recovery in Appleborro, the town's influence causes him to reform. He becomes interested in the local butterflies, De Rance's hobby, and becomes so knowledgeable in them that he becomes a published expert. Slippy has fallen in love with Mary Virginia, but she plans to marry Lawrence Mayne. However, George Inglesby determines that he wants Mary Virginia for himself, and decides to blackmail Mary Virginia into marrying him using incriminating letters he has in his possession. Wishing Mary to be happy, Slippy resorts to his old ways, breaking into the safe where the letters are kept and thus freeing Mary Virginia of the power George has over her.

Cast

as Mary Virginia * Wheeler Oakman as Slippy McGee * Sam De Grasse as Father De Rance *Edmund Stevens as George Inglesby * Edith Yorke as Madame De Rance *

Lloyd Whitlock Lloyd Whitlock (January 2, 1891 – January 8, 1966) was a prolific American actor who began working during Hollywood's silent era. Born in 1891, he appeared in nearly 200 films between 1916 and 1949. Distinguished by his height and stature, he ...

as Howard Hunter * Pat O'Malley as Lawrence Mayne *Mary Connor *William Foster as Judge Mayne *Katherine Healy *Frances Smith *Bardell Wheeler

Production

Production on the film began in June 1921 with Colleen's return from New York and Florida, where she was making '' The Lotus Eater'' with John Barrymore which was directed by Marshall Neilan. Upon her return to Los Angeles, she left again after a few weeks for location work at

Natchez, Mississippi Natchez ( ) is the county seat of and only city in Adams County, Mississippi, United States. Natchez has a total population of 14,520 (as of the 2020 census). Located on the Mississippi River across from Vidalia in Concordia Parish, Louisiana, N ...

, which filled in for the fictional town of Appleborro. Colleen was taken with the town, and spoke well of the hospitality she and the ''Slippy McGee'' troupe were treated to. It was not the first film production the town had hosted.''A Lifetime on Deadline,'' by George W. Healy, Jr., Pelican Publishing Co., 1976. The film would not be released until two year later, in 1923.

Footnotes

* ''Natchez Democrat'', July 12, 1921, page 4. * "Natchez Is on the Map," by Grace Kingsley, ''Los Angeles Times'', August 14, 1921, page III1 and page III16.

Bibliography

* ''Silent Star'', by

. * Jeff Codori (2012), ''Colleen Moore; A Biography of the Silent Film Star''
McFarland Publishing
(Print , EBook ).
Colleen Moore research/history project page

External links

AFI Silent Catalog listing for ''Slippy McGee''
* *{{allmovie, 110621, Synopsis American silent feature films 1923 films Films shot in Mississippi Films directed by Wesley Ruggles Films based on American novels American black-and-white films Silent American drama films 1923 drama films 1920s American films