''Something Different'' is a
lost
Lost may refer to getting lost, or to:
Geography
*Lost, Aberdeenshire, a hamlet in Scotland
* Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, or LOST, a hiking and cycling trail in Florida, US
History
*Abbreviation of lost work, any work which is known to have bee ...
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-g ...
produced and distributed by Realart Pictures, an affiliate of
Famous Players-Lasky
Famous Players-Lasky Corporation was an American motion picture and distribution company formed on June 28, 1916, from the merger of Adolph Zukor's Famous Players Film Company—originally formed by Zukor as Famous Players in Famous Plays—and t ...
and
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 ...
. It is based on a novel, ''Calderon's Prisoner'', by
Alice Duer Miller
Alice Duer Miller (July 28, 1874 – August 22, 1942) was an American writer whose poetry actively influenced political opinion. Her feminist verses influenced political opinion during the American suffrage movement, and her verse novel ''The W ...
. The picture was directed by
Roy William Neill
Roy William Neill (4 September 1887 – 14 December 1946) was an Irish-born American film director best known for directing the last eleven of the fourteen Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, made between 1943 and 19 ...
with some filming being done in
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
. Some of the cast's
passport photos to enter Cuba for this production are found at
Flickr
Flickr ( ; ) is an American image hosting and video hosting service, as well as an online community, founded in Canada and headquartered in the United States. It was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and was a popular way for amateur and professional ...
.
[''The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1911-20'' by The American Film Institute, c. 1988]
Leo Tover
Leo Tover, A.S.C. (December 6, 1902 – December 30, 1964) was an American cinematographer, twice nominated for Academy Awards for his work on ''The Heiress'' (1949) and ''Hold Back the Dawn'' (1941). His other credits include the silent ve ...
, then 19 years old, later became a well known cinematographer. He took a passport photo to go to Cuba with other members of the film's company. It is unclear what Tover's role in the production was.
Plot
As summarized in a film publication,
Alice Lea (Binney), an heiress reaching the end of her funds, was being forced into a marriage for money, so she decided to seek adventure in Central American and visit a friend. She learned that Don Luis (Wilbur), husband of her friend, was hostile to the government and secretly planning to overthrow it. At the government ball Alice met Don Mariano, head of the army. During the ball she witnessed Mariano kill a spy and hated him for his cruelty. Later Alice is taken prisoner by Mariano on suspicion that she is aiding Don Luis in his revolt. Alice was made very comfortable in Don Mariano's home and, while she would not admit it, she was falling in love with her captor. Mariano was also falling in love with his captive, so much so that managed her release and also promised that of her friend's husband Don Luis, who had been captured and likely faced death. Alice returned to her home, and was soon followed by Mariano, who had been exiled for allowing the prisoners to escape. He told Alice of his love, and of course they lived happily thereafter.
Cast
*
Constance Binney as Alice Lea
*
Lucy Fox
Lucy Fox (October 25, 1897 – May 21, 1970) was an American actress active in the era of silent film.Solomon, p. 290
Partial filmography
* '' Just for Tonight'' (1918)
* '' Why I Would Not Marry?'' (1918)
* ''The Bishop's Emeralds'' (1919)
* '' ...
as Rosa Vargas
*
Ward Crane
Ward Crane (May 18, 1890 – July 21, 1928) was an American silent film actor popular in comedies and dramas. Out of dozens of films, he is remembered as the handsome heavy to Buster Keaton's hero in ''Sherlock Jr.'' (1924).
Crane died aged ...
as Don Mariano Calderon
*
Crane Wilbur
Crane Wilbur (November 17, 1886 – October 18, 1973) was an American writer, actor and director for stage, radio and screen. He was born in Athens, New York. Wilbur is best remembered for playing Harry Marvin in '' The Perils of Pauline''. He ...
as Don Luis Vargas
*Gertrude Hillman as Calderon's Housekeeper
*Mark Smith as Richard Bidgley
*
Grace Studdiford as Mrs. Evans (credited as Grace Studiford)
*
Riley Hatch
William Riley Hatch (September 2, 1862 – September 6, 1925) was an American singer and actor on stage and in silent films.
Hatch's Broadway debut came in ''The Burgomaster'' (1900); his final Broadway appearance was in ''The Nervous Wreck'' ...
as Mr. Stimson (credited as William Riley Hatch)
*
Adolph Milar
Adolph Milar (1895–1950) was a Swiss-born film actor. He appeared in character roles in around sixty American films from 1919 to 1945, playing characters of a variety of nationalities.Biskupski p.43 His name is sometimes written as Adolf Milar. ...
as Spy (credited as Adolph Millar)
Reviews and Public Opinion
Something Different received a multitude of mixed opinions during its time in theaters, and despite Realart Pictures’ aggressive advertising near the start of its lifetime, viewers’ reviews gradually grew more critical as they moved on to delve into other, more entertaining films. As such, Something Different eventually faded from public memory, and soon it disappeared from physical records altogether, becoming one of the countless lost films of the silent era.
Upon the film’s release in December 1920, positive commentary mostly came from articles written by Realart, who claimed that the film would be a massive success. Th
1920 November-December issue of Motion Picture News published in November of that year, featured an article from Realart praising the work of director Roy William Niell and his “rare technique and imaginative power,” hoping to generate excitement for the “masterpiece” film Something Different before it was released. Shortly after, in January 1921, The Exhibitor’s Herald
praised the film’s breathtaking scenery and youthful energy, and it was projected to find success in the box office. In the following months, theaters across the country continued to show the film and viewers gave it positive reviews, albeit less so in later months. Multiple editions of The Moving Picture World
showed that Something Different was still being shown as late as March 1921, and The Exhibitor’s Herald
still listed the film under the “Guide to Current Pictures” in June.
At the same time, however, critical reviews became more negative over time as they commented on what they perceived as a weak plot held up only by impressive imagery and the presence of
Constance Binney, a popular actress as the lead role. I
from April 1921">The Exhibitor’s Herald from April 1921 critic J. H. Vaugham wrote “It’s a shame to waste good direction, photography, and cast on such a frail theme. ...Does not give the star a fair chance.” Moreover, i
Wid’s Daily from January 1921 an article titled “Pleasing Star But Story Only Mildly Interesting”
disdainfully reviewed Something Different, noting that, on top of Binney’s lackluster performance, the plot overall was both confusing and boring. Over time, the combination of negative reviews, the ever-present wave of new films, and the rise of sound films led to the disappearance of Something Different. It lost its initial popularity and its relevance by the start of the sound era, and although there is no record of how the film itself was lost, there is a high probability that it was intentionally destroyed.
References
External links
*
*
Passport photos of the cast and crew of SOMETHING DIFFERENT, for Cuban entry
{{DEFAULTSORT:Something Different
1920 films
Films directed by Roy William Neill
Films based on American novels
Lost American films
1920 drama films
American silent feature films
American black-and-white films
Silent American drama films
Films based on works by Alice Duer Miller
1920 lost films
Lost drama films
1920s American films