''The Man on the Box'' is a 1925 American

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by

Charles Reisner Charles Francis Reisner (March 14, 1887 – September 24, 1962) was an American film director and actor of the 1920s and 1930s. The German-American directed over 60 films between 1920 and 1950 and acted in over 20 films between 1916 and 1 ...

and written by Charles Logue. It is based on the 1904 novel ''The Man on the Box'' by

Harold MacGrath Harold MacGrath (September 4, 1871 – October 30, 1932) was a bestselling and prolific American novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter. He sometimes completed more than one novel per year for the mass market, covering romance, spies, my ...

. The film stars

Sydney Chaplin Sydney John Chaplin (; 16 March 1885 – 16 April 1965) was an English actor. Chaplin was the elder half-brother of actor and director Charlie Chaplin and served as his business manager in later life. Through their mother Hannah, they were o ...

, David Butler,

Alice Calhoun Alice Beatrice Calhoun (November 21, 1900 – June 3, 1966) was an American silent film actress. Film star Born in Cleveland, Ohio, she made her film debut in an uncredited role in 1918 and went on to appear in another forty-seven films betw ...

, Cathleen Calhoun,

Theodore Lorch Theodore "Ted" Lorch (September 29, 1873 – November 12, 1947) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 140 films between 1908 and 1947. Biography Born in Springfield, Illinois, in 1873, Lorch appeared in several Three Stooges ...

, and

Helene Costello Helene Costello (June 21, 1906 – January 26, 1957) was an American stage and film actress, most notably of the silent era. Early life and career Born in New York City, Costello was the youngest daughter of the prominent stage and pioneering ...

. The film was released by

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

on October 11, 1925.

Plot

Bob Warburton, a wealthy young bachelor, falls in love with Betty Annesly and, in order to be close to her, is hired as a gardener by her father, Colonel Annesley. However, the girl discovers the trick of her admirer and, to teach him a lesson, insists that the new gardener serve at the table during an important lunch. Bob refuses the task and so is replaced by Count Karloff's butler who offers, for the occasion, to lend it to the landlord. Bob realizes that Badkoff, the butler, is an enemy agent tasked with stealing secret helicopter plans from Betty's father. Disguised as a waitress, Bob puts a spoke in the wheel of the spy, saving the precious documents. Eventually, he also wins over beautiful Betty, taking her to the altar.

Cast

Box office

According to Warner Bros records the film earned $425,000 domestically and $63,000 foreign.

References

External links

* * 1925 films 1920s English-language films Silent American comedy films 1925 comedy films Warner Bros. films Films directed by Charles Reisner American silent feature films American black-and-white films Films based on American novels Remakes of American films 1920s American films {{1920s-comedy-film-stub