''The Custard Cup'' is a 1923 American

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

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 ...

and written by G. Marion Burton and Ralph Spence. It is based on the 1921 novel ''The Custard Cup'' by Florence Bingham Livingston. The film stars

Mary Carr Mary Carr (née Kenevan; March 14, 1874 – June 24, 1973), was an American film actress and was married to the actor William Carr. She appeared in more than 140 films between 1915 and 1956. She was given some of filmdoms plum mother roles in ...

, Myrta Bonillas,

Miriam Battista Miriam Battista (July 14, 1912 – December 22, 1980) was an American actress known principally for her early career as a child star in silent films. After gaining notice in Broadway theatre at the age of four, she was cast in films the same y ...

, Jerry Devine, Ernest McKay, and

Peggy Shaw Peggy Shaw (born July 27, 1944) is an actor, writer, and producer living in New York City. She is a founding member of the Split Britches and WOW Cafe Theatre, and is a recipient of several Obie Awards, including two for Best Actress for he ...

. The film was released on January 1, 1923, 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

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 ...

, Mrs. Penfield (Carr), or Penzie, known for her goodness, lives in a little group settlement with her two adopted children. Crink (Devine), the eldest boy, finds little waif Lettie (Battista), who joins the family. Through Penzie's care the girl improves. Also in the neighborhood are the mysterious couple Frank (Sedley) and Gussie Bosley (Bonillas) who are counterfeiters. During a boat excursion sponsored by Alderman Curry (Hendricks), Frank is discovered passing off his false notes and Gussie gives Penzie a large bill to buy refreshments for the children but to return the change to her. Frank tries to destroy the evidence and burns the remaining bills in his pockets. Through his carelessness, the boat catches fire, forcing all on board to flee. Later, as the law enforcement net begins to close on them, the Bosleys prepare to leave but are apprehended by Secret Service men. Penzie, who has been falsely accused of passing false money, is exonerated.

Cast

as Mrs. Penfield * Myrta Bonillas as Gussie Bosley *

as Lettie *Jerry Devine as Crink *Ernest McKay as Thad *

as Lorene Percy *Lisle Leigh as Mrs. Percy *

Fred Esmelton Fred Esmelton (22 June 1872 – 23 October 1933) was an Australian-born American film actor, as well as a stage actor and director. He appeared in 30 films, usually in supporting roles, between the years 1916 and 1931. He was born in Melbo ...

as Jeremiah Winston *

Henry Sedley Henry Sedley may refer to: * Henry Sedley (actor) * Henry Sedley (journalist) * Sir Henry Sedley, 3rd Baronet, of the Sedley baronets {{hndis, Sedley, Henry ...

as Frank Bosley *Louis Hendricks as Alderman Curry *Edward Boring as Mr. Wopple *Emily Lorraine as Perennial Prue *

Ben Lyon Ben Lyon (February 6, 1901 – March 22, 1979) was an American film actor and a studio executive at 20th Century-Fox who later acted in British radio, films and TV. Early life and career Lyon was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Alvine ...

as Dick Chase *Richard Collins as Counterfeiter *Nick Hollen as Detective

Preservation

With no copies located in film archives, ''The Custard Cup'' 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 ...

.Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: ''The Custard Cup''
/ref>

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Custard Cup, The 1923 films 1920s English-language films Silent American drama films 1923 drama films Fox Film films Films directed by Herbert Brenon American silent feature films American black-and-white films 1920s American films