''The Grim Comedian'' is a 1921 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

Frank Lloyd Frank William George Lloyd (2 February 1886 – 10 August 1960) was a British-born American film director, actor, scriptwriter, and producer. He was among the founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and was its president ...

and starring

Phoebe Hunt Phoebe or Phœbe may refer to: __NOTOC__ People and characters * Phoebe (given name), a list of people, mythological, biblical and fictional characters *Phoebe (Greek myth), several characters * Phoebe, an epithet of Artemis/ Diana and Selene/Luna, ...

, Jack Holt, and

Gloria Hope Gloria Hope (born Olive Frances, November 9, 1901 – October 29, 1976) was an American silent film actress. Life and career She was born as Olive Frances in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1901. Following her education at a Newark, New Jersey, ...

.Munden p. 316

Plot

As described in a

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 ...

, an automobile passenger tells an old man a tale, while speeding across the country, of the actress Marie Lamonte (Hunt) who gives up luxury, a beautiful car, and a cozy apartment furnished by Harvey "Million Dollar" Martin (Holt). She does all this so that her daughter Dorothy (Hope), who was reared in a convent, might not be contaminated by the presence of the roue. However, Harvey meets the young woman and a genuine affection springs up for her. On the day that they are to

elope Elopement is a term that is used in reference to a marriage which is conducted in a sudden and secretive fashion, usually involving a hurried flight away from one's place of residence together with one's beloved with the intention of getting ma ...

, Marie goes to Harvey's apartment, finds her daughter waiting in an adjoining room, and in desperation shoots Harvey, wounding him in the hand. "I did not think that you would do it," he says. "You've won." He forthright tells Dorothy that he did not intend to marry her. "The grim comedian" known as life has turned the tables on the millionaire when happiness was within his grasp.

Cast

as Marie Lamonte * Jack Holt as Harvey Martin *

as Dorothy *

Bert Woodruff William Herbert "Bert" Woodruff (April 29, 1856 – June 14, 1934) was an American actor of the silent era. Woodruff was born in Peoria, Illinois, and was the son of Mrs. Hannah Woodruff. He performed on stage before he began acting on fi ...

as Old Dad *

Laura La Varnie Laura La Varnie (March 2, 1853 – September 18, 1939) was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in more than 80 films between 1913 and 1930. She was born in Jefferson City, Missouri and died in Los Angeles, California. Select ...

as Gracie Moore *

May Hopkins May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and is the third of seven months to have a length of 31 days. May is a month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, M ...

as Billie Page *

John Harron John Harron (March 31, 1903 – November 24, 1939) was an American actor. He appeared in more than 160 films between 1918 and 1940. Born in New York, New York, he was the brother of actor Robert Harron and of actress Mary Harron. Harron di ...

as Geoffrey Hutchins *

Joseph J. Dowling Joseph Johnson Dowling (September 4, 1850 – July 8, 1928) was an American stage and silent film actor. Early life and career Born in Pittsburgh, the son of James and Fredericka (''nee'' Edstrem) Dowling. His father was a native of Pennsy ...

as Carleton Hutchins

References

Bibliography

* Munden, Kenneth White. ''The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States, Part 1''. University of California Press, 1997.

External links

* * 1921 films 1921 drama films Silent American drama films Films directed by Frank Lloyd American silent feature films 1920s English-language films Goldwyn Pictures films American black-and-white films 1920s American films {{1920s-silent-drama-film-stub