''The Satin Girl'' is a 1923 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 ...

directed by

Arthur Rosson Arthur Henry Rosson (24 August 1886 – 17 June 1960) was an English film director. From 1917 to 1948, Rosson directed 61 feature films (including co-direction of '' Red River''). He also worked on many major films as a second unit director ...

and starring Mabel Forrest,

Norman Kerry Norman Kerry (born Norman Hussey Kaiser,"United States World War II Draft Registration Cards,registration for Norman Hussey Kaiser, Los Angeles, California, April 27, 1942 This document lists his full name as Norman Hussey Kaiser, noting the na ...

and

Marc McDermott Marcus McDermott (also credited as Marc MacDermott; 24 July 1871 – 5 January 1929) was an Australian actor who starred on Broadway and in over 180 American films from 1909 until his death.Nick Murphy at the Forgotten Australian Actors webs ...

. The main themes of the film are amnesia and brainwashing. Lenore Vance, the main character, loses her memory due to shock. A wicked uncle reprograms her into a

robber Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take anything of value by force, threat of force, or by use of fear. According to common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the perso ...

Plot

The story revolves around a young woman named Lenore Vance (Mabel Forrest), who loses her memory after witnessing the death of her father Silas Gregg (William H Turner). She commits a series of robberies due to being brainwashed by her elderly, reclusive, chemist uncle named Fargo (Marc Mac Dermott). She later becomes the person of interest in the murder of her father, being labelled by the authorities as "The Satin Girl". A physician named Dr. Richard Taunton (Norman Kerry) meets Lenore at a party thrown by Millie Brown-Potter (Kate Lester), and becomes infatuated with her. After discovering that Lenore has taken pieces of jewelry from himself and Mrs. Potter, he uses a piece of evidence left behind to investigate the crimes himself, and makes the discovery that Fargo is the one who killed Silas. The police are notified, but they discover that he has committed suicide upon arriving at his house. It is later revealed to the audience that the entire story is in a book that Lenore is reading.C.S. Sewell. “The Satin Girl”. ''Moving Picture World.'' Vol. 65. 8 December 1923.

Cast

* Mabel Forrest as Lenore Vance *

as Dr. Richard Taunton *

as Fargo Gregg *

Clarence Burton Clarence Forrest Burton (May 10, 1882 – December 2, 1933) was an American silent film actor. Biography Burton was born in Fort Lyon, in Benton County, Missouri and started in show business at the age of 5, playing stock and musical comedy ...

as Moran * Florence Lawrence as Sylvia *

Kate Lester Kate Lester (born Sarah Cody, 12 June 1857 – 12 October 1924) was an American theatrical and silent film actress. Her family, the Suydams of New York, were staying in Britain at the time of her birth.Who Was Who on Screen 3rd edition page ...

as Millie Brown-Potter * Reed House as Norton Pless * William H. Turner as Silas Gregg * Walter Stephens as Harg

Reception

The film received high praise for its casting upon release. C.S Sewell of ''

The Moving Picture World The ''Moving Picture World'' was an influential early trade journal for the American film industry, from 1907 to 1927. An industry powerhouse at its height, ''Moving Picture World'' frequently reiterated its independence from the film studios. I ...

'' writes: "Norman Kerry is well cast as the young physician and Marc McDermott is effective as the master-criminal. Mabel Forrest does good work as the girl. The remainder of the cast is satisfactory." One reviewer from ''Variety'' says: "Mabel Forrest can act, and does so with skill and intelligence. Then there's Marc McDermott, a character actor who classes with the very best of the screen's handful of the good ones. Norman Kerry gives a dignified portrayal of the M.D., and the contributory parts are unusually well played."“The Satin Girl”. ''Variety.'' Vol. 73 Issue 23. 6 December 1923. pp 26.

References

Bibliography

* Connelly, Robert B. ''The Silents: Silent Feature Films, 1910-36, Volume 40, Issue 2''. December Press, 1998.

External links

* 1923 films 1923 drama films 1920s English-language films American silent feature films Silent American drama films American black-and-white films Films directed by Arthur Rosson Films with screenplays by George H. Plympton Films about amnesia Films about mind control 1920s American films English-language drama films {{silent-film-stub