''The Roughneck'' is a 1924 American silent romantic

adventure film An adventure film is a form of adventure fiction, and is a genre of film. Subgenres of adventure films include swashbuckler films, pirate films, and survival films. Adventure films may also be combined with other film genres such as action, an ...

directed by Jack Conway and written by

Charles Kenyon Charles Kenyon (November 2, 1880 – June 27, 1961) was an American screenwriter, who wrote or co-wrote the screenplays for more than 110 films between 1915 and 1946. He was married to actress Jane Winton from 1927 to 1930. Kenyon was born i ...

. It is based on the 1923 novel ''The Roughneck'' by

Robert W. Service Robert William Service (January 16, 1874 – September 11, 1958) was a British-Canadian poet and writer, often called "the Bard of the Yukon". The middle name 'William' was in honour of a rich uncle. When that uncle neglected to provide for hi ...

. The film stars George O'Brien,

Billie Dove Lillian Bohny (born Bertha Eugenie Bohny; May 14, 1903 – December 31, 1997), known professionally as Billie Dove, was an American actress. Early life and career Dove was born Bertha Eugenie Bohny in New York City in 1903 to Charles and Ber ...

Harry T. Morey Harry Temple Morey (August 21, 1873 – January 24, 1936) was an American stage and motion picture actor who appeared in nearly 200 films during his career. Biography Born in Charlotte, Michigan, Morey had two brothers. Their mother was Addie C. ...

Cleo Madison Cleo Madison (born Lulu Bailey; March 26, 1883 – March 11, 1964) was a theatrical and silent film actress, screenwriter, producer, and director who was active in Hollywood during the silent era. Madison began her career on the stage. B ...

Charles Sellon Charles A. Sellon (August 24, 1870 – June 26, 1937) was an American stage and film actor. Sellon appeared in more than 100 films and stage acts between 1901 and 1935. He played the blind Mr. Muckle in W. C. Fields' comedy ''It's a Gift'' ...

, and

Anne Cornwall Anne Cornwall (January 17, 1897 – March 2, 1980) was an American actress best known for her roles in ''College'' (1927) and ''The Roughneck'' (1924). Biography Born in Brooklyn in 1897, Cornwall performed for forty years in many silent film ...

. The film was released on November 30, 1924, by

Fox Film Corporation The Fox Film Corporation (also known as Fox Studios) was an American Independent film production studio formed by William Fox (1879–1952) in 1915, by combining his earlier Greater New York Film Rental Company and Box Office Attractions Film ...

Plot

As described in a review in a film magazine, Mad McCara (Morey), a sea captain, on the promise of marriage lures the widow Delaney (Madison) aboard his ship. A collision in the harbor gives him the chance to tell her that her son Jerry was drowned, though he sent him ashore. Years pass. McCara has tired of Mrs. Delaney, who has found shelter with the natives on the tropical isle of Taohing. Jerry (O'Brien), grown to manhood, conquers his adversary in a prize fight and, believing him dead, escapes by hiding on a ship bound for Taohing. He is discovered and Felicity (Dove), who is going to the tropics to paint pictures, becomes interested in him. To escape from being sent back home, he starts to swim ashore. Zelle (Cornwall), a young native woman, rescues him from a shark. McCara, now prosperous and using an assumed name, seeks to win Felicity, but she declares her love for Jerry. To save her from his disgrace, he pretends he does not love her. Felicity seeks shelter in McCara's home from the rain. To convince Jerry of Felicity's peril, his mother discloses her identity. Jerry arrives in time to save Felicity and avenge his mother. Returning home with his mother and Felicity to take his medicine, he learns that the man he thought he killed in the prize fight is still alive.

Cast

Preservation

With no copies of ''The Roughneck'' located in any film archives,The Library of Congress/FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: ''The Roughneck''
/ref> it is 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 ...

References

External links

* * 1924 films 1920s English-language films American action films Lost American action films 1924 lost films English-language action films 1920s action films Fox Film films Films directed by Jack Conway American silent feature films American black-and-white films 1920s American films Silent American action films {{1920s-US-film-stub

Plot

Cast

Preservation

See also

References

External links