''The Lotus Eater'' is a 1921 American silent romantic drama film produced and directed by

Marshall Neilan Marshall Ambrose "Mickey" Neilan (April 11, 1891 – October 27, 1958) was an American actor. Early life Born in San Bernardino, California, Neilan was known by most as "Mickey." Following the death of his father, the eleven-year-old Mickey N ...

and released through

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 ...

. ''The Lotus Eater'' starred

John Barrymore John Barrymore (born John Sidney Blyth; February 14 or 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942) was an American actor on stage, screen and radio. A member of the Drew and Barrymore theatrical families, he initially tried to avoid the stage, and briefly att ...

with

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 the female lead. ''The Lotus Eater'' is now considered

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 ...

Plot

As described in a film magazine, raised aboard a ship, Jacques Leroi (Barrymore) has never seen a woman until after the death of his father, a man who had been disappointed in love. As the only heir, the will stipulates that he is to remain on board until he reaches 25 years of age. On his 25th birthday, he arrives in New York City to consult his lawyer, and meets the gold-digging Madge Vance (Nilsson), who is being courted by John Carson (Sherry). While off the coast of Florida on his yacht with Miss Vance, Jacques has the captain marry them and they go on a long cruise. Upon returning to New York City Jacques discovers that, according to the will, he will not inherit anything until he is 30 years old if he marries in haste. Madge then leaves him. Jacques becomes despondent, and agrees to attempt to cross the Pacific Ocean in a

dirigible balloon An airship or dirigible balloon is a type of aerostat or lighter-than-air aircraft that can navigate through the air under its own power. Aerostats gain their lift from a lifting gas that is less dense than the surrounding air. In early ...

with the patentee of a new form of gas. The blimp fails to rise above the air currents and he is forced to land on a small island. There he comes upon the strange occupants of the island, people who have been saved from various shipwrecks. They all wear Greek style clothing, eat at restaurants free of charge, and no one works. He falls in love with the native girl Mavis (Moore), but confesses that he has a wife and must return to the United States. The islanders loan him a boat, and he soon returns to New York City, where he discovers that Madge has become engaged to John Carson. Jacques and John await for Madge to keep an appointment only to receive word that she has eloped with a third man. Jacques is elated and returns to the island for the company of his beautiful native maiden.

Cast

as Jacques Leroi *

as Mavis *

Anna Q. Nilsson Anna Quirentia Nilsson (March 30, 1888 – February 11, 1974) was a Swedish-American actress who achieved success in American silent movies. Early life Nilsson was born in Ystad, Sweden in 1888. Her middle name Quirentia is derived from her ...

as Madge Vance * Ida Waterman as Mrs. Hastings Vance * Frank Currier as The Dean * Wesley Barry as Jocko *

J. Barney Sherry J. Barney Sherry (March 4, 1874February 22, 1944) was an American actor of the silent film era. He appeared in more than 210 films between 1905 and 1929. He was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania and died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from card ...

as John Carson * Dorothy Mackaill

Production

The film was shot in part in Florida, Marshall Neilan and his troupe having chartered a yacht in New York and sailing south. Returning to New York after Florida, interiors for ''The Lotus Eater'' were shot at the old Biograph studio in the Bronx. Portions of the film were completed at Santa Catalina Island, though Barrymore was not there, as he was busy with the play ''Clair de Lune'' which had opened on April 18.''John Barrymore, Shakespearean Actor'', by Michael A. Morrison, Cambridge University Press, 1999, p. 124.

References

External links

* *
Still taken during productionProgram cover
(archived by worthpoint) *Several surviving stills from the lost film
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lotus Eater, The 1921 films 1921 romantic drama films American romantic drama films American silent feature films American black-and-white films Films directed by Marshall Neilan First National Pictures films Films shot in Los Angeles Films shot in New York City Films shot in Miami Lost American films 1921 lost films Lost romantic drama films 1920s American films Silent romantic drama films Silent American drama films

Plot

Cast

Production

See also

References

External links