''Sweet Lavender'' 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-g ...

directed by Paul Powell and starring

Mary Miles Minter Mary Miles Minter (born Juliet Reilly; April 25, 1902Louisiana Birth Certificate, Caddo Parish, No. 119, Book A, Page 97, Birth Date: April 25, 1902, Name: Mary M. Reilly ic – Original Caddo birth record was recorded as "J.H. Riley's Child" ...

. The scenario was adapted by

Beulah Marie Dix Beulah Marie Dix (December 25, 1876 – September 25, 1970) was an American screenwriter of the silent and sound film eras, as well as a playwright and author of novels and children's books. She wrote for more than 55 films between 1917 an ...

from the 1888 play of the same name by

Arthur Wing Pinero Sir Arthur Wing Pinero (24 May 185523 November 1934) was an English playwright and, early in his career, actor. Pinero was drawn to the theatre from an early age, and became a professional actor at the age of 19. He gained experience as a supp ...

. Like many of Minter's features, it is thought to be a

lost film A lost film is a feature or short film that no longer exists in any studio archive, private collection, public archive or the U.S. Library of Congress. Conditions During most of the 20th century, U.S. copyright law required at least one copy o ...

.The Library of Congress/FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: ''Sweet Lavender''
/ref>

Plot

As described in various

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 ...

reviews, Lavender (Minter) lives with her aunt Ruth Holt (Keckley), who runs a boarding house for college boys. Lavender believes that Ruth is her mother; she does not know that her real mother died in childbirth after her husband cast her out for her lower social status. Among the boys at Ruth's boarding house is a freshman called Clem Hale (Goodwin). Some sophomores play a prank on him, tying him to a chair when he is supposed to be giving a speech at a dinner. Lavender deceives the sophomores and rescues Clem from his plight, and a romance develops between them. Clem's guardian, Horace Weatherburn (Sills), pays his charge a visit, and, thinking Lavender to be beneath Clem's status, objects vehemently to the relationship. Lavender's aunt Ruth also objects, but for very different reasons; she recognises Weatherburn as her sister's cruel husband, and thus Lavender's father. Lavender is sent off to boarding school and away from Clem. Lavender escapes from boarding school when she hears that Clem is seriously ill. Disguising herself in boys' clothes, she walks through the rain until she is overcome with exhaustion and faints. Weatherburn finds her, and recognises her from Clem's engagement ring, which she still wears. Impressed by Lavender's devotion to Clem at the expense of her own safety, he takes her to him. Mrs. Holt tells Weatherburn the truth - that Lavender is really his daughter - and all objections to her union with Clem are overcome. The September 4th, 1920 edition of

Motion Picture News The ''Motion Picture News'' was an American film industry trade paper published from 1913 to 1930. History The publication was created through the 1913 merger of the ''Moving Picture News'' founded in 1908 and ''The Exhibitors' Times'', founded ...

lists a musical cue sheet for the film.

Cast

as Lavender * Harold Goodwin as Clem Hale *

Milton Sills Milton George Gustavus Sills (January 12, 1882 – September 15, 1930) was an American stage and film actor of the early twentieth century. Biography Sills was born in Chicago, Illinois, into a wealthy family. He was the son of William Henr ...

as Horace Weatherburn *

Jane Keckley Jane Keckley (September 10, 1876 – August 14, 1963) was an American actress of the silent and sound film eras. Biography Keckley was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and went to school there and in Georgia. Before she acted in films, Kec ...

as Ruth Holt *

Theodore Roberts Theodore Roberts (October 8, 1861 – December 14, 1928) was an American film and stage actor. Early life Roberts was born in San Francisco, California. He was a cousin of the stage actress Florence Roberts. His choice of a career disapp ...

as Professor Phenyl *

Sylvia Ashton Sylvia Ashton (January 26, 1880 – November 18, 1940) was an American film actress of the silent film era. Ashton was born in Denver, Colorado. She bore a heavyset resemblance to Jane Darwell and like Darwell was playing mother and grand ...

as Dotty Driscoe *J.M. Dumont as Mr. Driscoe *Starke Patteson as Billy Driscoe *Flora Hollister as Minnie

References

External links

* 1920 films 1920s English-language films Silent American drama films 1920 drama films Films directed by Paul Powell (director) American silent feature films American black-and-white films 1920s American films {{1920s-drama-film-stub