The Passing of the Third Floor Back - scene - aug 1918 newspaper

''The Passing of the Third Floor Back'' is a 1918 British/American silent allegorical film based on the 1908 play ''The Passing of the Third Floor Back'' by

Jerome K. Jerome Jerome Klapka Jerome (2 May 1859 – 14 June 1927) was an English writer and humourist, best known for the comic travelogue ''Three Men in a Boat'' (1889). Other works include the essay collections '' Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow'' (1886) an ...

and directed by

Herbert Brenon Herbert Brenon (born Alexander Herbert Reginald St. John Brenon; 13 January 1880 – 21 June 1958) was an Irish-born U.S. film director, actor and screenwriter during the era of silent films through the 1930s. Brenon was among the early film ...

. The star of the film is Sir

Johnston Forbes-Robertson Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson (16 January 1853 – 6 November 1937''Sir Johnston Forbes Robertson, Beauty And Grace in Acting'', Obituaries, '' The Times'', 8 November 1937.) was an English actor and theatre manager and husband of actress Gert ...

, a legendary Shakespearean actor, who starred in the 1909 Broadway presentation of the play and its 1913 revival. Forbes-Robertson had been knighted by

King George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. Born during the reign of his grandmother Qu ...

in 1913 and had retired from acting in theatre that same year. In his retirement Forbes-Robertson had only dabbled in film acting making a 1913 film version of ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

'', the most famous role he had played on the stage. Filmed in 1916, it was released in 1918.

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 ...

, in the boarding house of Mrs. Sharpe there is nothing but discord among her boarders. The "old maid" believes that only false hair and powder will make her beautiful. The major and his wife are continuously quarreling. Their daughter Vivian is being forced into a marriage for money. The young artist accepts an assignment of not the choicest line of work to secure funds to marry Vivian. Harry Larkcom is trying to force his attentions on a weak slavey. However, the arrival of The Stranger and his talk with each make them realize the selfishness and narrowness of their existence, and before long the boarding house is a happy and contented place. With his work done, The Stranger moves on.

Cast

*Sir

as The Stranger, (who rents the room from Mrs Sharpe, designated by her as 'the third floor back') * Molly Pearson as Stasia (Molly Pearson played this part in the 1909 Broadway play) * Ketty Galanta *Augusta Haviland * George Le Guere as Christopher Penny, A Coward (played by David Powell in the play) (Le Guerre was unbilled) * Alfred Hickman * Victory Bateman or

Dora Mills Adams Dora Mills Adams (October 24, 1874 – July 31, 1943) was an American film actress. She is best known for her appearance in the short film '' Dr Jeykll and Mr Hyde'' as Mrs. Lanyon. Career Mills entered the New York film industry near it ...

as Miss De Hooley, a snob (unbilled)

Reception

In the United States, as in the case of many another American film of the time, ''The Passing of the Third Floor Back'' was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors cut, in Reel 2, the intertitle "What do you think I'm giving the earings for?", Reel 4, two intertitles "She brought disgrace upon herself" and "I'll be waiting for you tonight. The door will be open", and, Reel 5, the man drinking the poison.

References

External links

* * *Jerome, Jerome K.,
The Passing of the Third Floor Back; an Idle Fancy in a Prologue, a Play, and an Epilogue
', New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1921 edition, on the Internet Archive {{DEFAULTSORT:Passing of the Third Floor Back, The 1918 films British silent feature films Films directed by Herbert Brenon British films based on plays American films based on plays Films based on works by Jerome K. Jerome Films set in London First National Pictures films British black-and-white films