''Those Who Dare'' is a 1924 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-g ...

directed by

John B. O'Brien John B. "Jack" O'Brien (December 13, 1884 – August 15, 1936) was an American actor and film director of the silent era. He appeared in more than 80 films between 1909 and 1936. He also directed 53 films between 1914 and 1926. Biography O' ...

and starring John Bowers,

Marguerite De La Motte Marguerite De La Motte (June 22, 1902 – March 10, 1950) was an American film actress, most notably of the silent film era. Early years Born in Duluth, Minnesota, De La Motte was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph De La Motte. She was a ...

, and

Joseph J. Dowling Joseph Johnson Dowling (September 4, 1850 – July 8, 1928) was an American stage and silent film actor. Early life and career Born in Pittsburgh, the son of James and Fredericka (''nee'' Edstrem) Dowling. His father was a native of Pennsy ...

. Though some reference books consider it a horror film, it is not known how overt the voodoo element was, since the film no longer exists. The film co-stars a couple of actors however who were associated with the 1920s horror film genre,

Sheldon Lewis Sheldon Lewis (April 20, 1868 – May 7, 1958) was an American actor of the silent era best known for his antagonistic roles. He appeared in more than 90 films between 1914 and 1936. Lewis was married to actress Virginia Pearson, and they were ...

(who starred in ''Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' (1920 Haydon film)), and

Cesare Gravina Cesare Gravina (23 January 1858 – 16 September 1954) was an Italian actor of the silent era who appeared in more than 70 films between 1911 and 1929. Born in Naples, Gravina was an orchestra conductor in his native Italy. As the conduct ...

(who starred with

Lon Chaney Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (April 1, 1883 – August 26, 1930) was an American actor. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and affli ...

in ''

The Man Who Laughs ''The Man Who Laughs'' (also published under the title ''By Order of the King'' from its subtitle in French) is a novel by Victor Hugo, originally published in April 1869 under the French title ''L'Homme qui rit''. It takes place in England beg ...

'', 1928). Director O'Brien quit directing in 1926, and spent the last ten years of his life acting in bit parts.

Plot

Captain Manning, the owner of the ship ''The Swallow'', is ordered to remove it from a town's harbor because it has the reputation for being cursed. Afterwards he settles down in an old folk's home where he tells the story of how he came to own the Swallow. It seems that years before, he found the ship adrift at sea, manned by a crew of mutineers, whose captain was struggling to maintain control over his crew. Manning learns that the men were under a peculiar voodoo practitioner's influence. He succeeds in besting the voodoo master and bringing the mutinous crew back under control, at which time the owner gives him the ship.

Cast

Preservation

A print of ''Those Who Dare'' is held by the

Cineteca Italiana Cineteca Italiana is a private film archive located in Milan, Italy, established in 1947, and as a foundation in 1996. History Established in 1947, and as a foundation in 1996, the Cineteca Italiana houses over 20,000 films and more than 100,000 p ...

in Milan.Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: ''Those Who Dare''
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References

Bibliography

* Munden, Kenneth White. ''The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States, Part 1''. University of California Press, 1997.

External links

* * 1924 films 1924 drama films Silent American drama films Films directed by John B. O'Brien American silent feature films 1920s English-language films American black-and-white films 1920s American films {{1920s-silent-drama-film-stub