''The Dangerous Age'' 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-g ...

directed by

John M. Stahl John Malcolm Stahl (January 21, 1886 – January 12, 1950) was an American film director and producer. Life and work He was born Jacob Morris Strelitsky in Baku (Azerbaijan) to a Russian Jewish family. When he was a child, his family le ...

and written by J.G. Hawks,

Bess Meredyth Bess Meredyth (born Helen Elizabeth MacGlashen, February 12, 1890 – July 13, 1969) was a screenwriter and silent film actress. The wife of film director Michael Curtiz, Meredyth wrote ''The Affairs of Cellini'' (1934) and adapted ''The Unsuspec ...

, and

Lenore Coffee Lenore Jackson Coffee (July 13, 1896 – July 2, 1984) was an American screenwriter, playwright, and novelist. Biography Lenore was born in San Francisco in 1896 to Andrew Jackson Coffee Jr. and Ella Muffley. She attended Dominican College ...

. The film stars

Lewis Stone Lewis Shepard Stone (November 15, 1879 – September 12, 1953) was an American film actor. He spent 29 years as a contract player at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and was best known for his portrayal of Judge James Hardy in the studio's popular ''Andy H ...

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 ...

Edith Roberts Edith Roberts may refer to: * Edith Roberts (actress), American silent film actress * Edith A. Roberts, American botanist * Edith Roberts (writer) Edith Roberts may refer to: * Edith Roberts (actress) Edith Roberts ( – August 20, 19 ...

Ruth Clifford Ruth Clifford (February 17, 1900 – November 30, 1998) was an American actress of leading roles in silent films, whose career lasted from that era into the television era. Early years Clifford was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the daughter ...

Myrtle Stedman Myrtle Stedman (born Myrtle Lincoln; March 3, 1883 – January 8, 1938) was an American leading lady and later character actress in motion pictures who began in silent films in 1910. Biography Stedman was born Myrtle Lincoln in Chicago, Ill ...

, and James Morrison. The film was released on February 4, 1923, by Associated First National Pictures.

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 ...

, John Emerson (Stone), married twenty years, finds that romance and color have left his life. His wife Mary (Madison) fails to sympathize with his longing for some of their previous enthusiasm. While traveling to New York City John encounters and is fascinated by Gloria Sanderson (Clifford). With her he makes the fiddy rounds of Gotham's cabarets. He tells her that he is not married. Afterwards, he writes to Mary, telling her what happened, and that he does not intend to return home. At that moment a

wire Overhead power cabling. The conductor consists of seven strands of steel (centre, high tensile strength), surrounded by four outer layers of aluminium (high conductivity). Sample diameter 40 mm A wire is a flexible strand of metal. Wire is c ...

is on the way to him announcing the upcoming marriage of his daughter Ruth (Roberts). After mailing the letter his fancy for Gloria receives a decided check when he finds her in the arms of another man. She tells him that she did not believe he was serious in his lovemaking, so a much agitated John heads for home. He wants to intercept the fatal letter, so he drives after and boards the train, incidentally wrecking his automobile. He arrives home just in time for his daughter's wedding. Meanwhile, Mary has realized her error towards John and he finds her changed for the better. His one desperate thought is to retain her love and prevent his letter from reaching her. However, she obtains the letter and reads it, but keeps this knowledge from her husband. She says she has not received it and asks what its contents are. John hastily improvises an affectionate epistle and Mary is content, knowing his spoken words are true.

Cast

as John Emerson *

as Mary Emerson *

as Ruth Emerson *

as Gloria Sanderson *

as Mrs. Sanderson * James Morrison as Bob *

Helen Lynch Helen Lynch (April 6, 1900 – March 2, 1965) was an American silent film actress, mainly known for her roles playing gun molls and other morally dubious characters. Biography Lynch was born in 1900 in Billings, Montana, where she was also rai ...

as Bebe Nash *

Lincoln Stedman Lincoln Stedman (May 18, 1907 – March 22, 1948) was an American silent film actor. Biography Stedman was born in Denver, Colorado, the only child to Marshall Stedman and silent film beauty Myrtle Stedman. Stedman had a career in films dat ...

as Ted *

Edmund Burns Edmund Burns (September 27, 1892 – April 2, 1980 ) was an American actor. He was best known for his films of the silent 1920s, particularly ''The Princess from Hoboken'' (1927), '' Made for Love'' (1926), and ''After the Fog'' (1929), althoug ...

as Tom *

Richard Tucker Richard Tucker (August 28, 1913January 8, 1975) was an American operatic tenor and cantor. Long associated with the Metropolitan Opera, Tucker's career was primarily centered in the United States. Early life Tucker was born Rivn (Rubin) Ticker ...

as Robert Chanslor *

Sidney Algier Sidney Algier (December 5, 1889 – April 24, 1945) was an American actor, film director and screenwriter. He was married to Wava Roberts. Born in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, he died in Sawtelle, Los Angeles, of a heart attack at the age of 55. Filmog ...

*Maxine Tabnac as Child (uncredited)

References

External links

* *
Poster
at silenthollywood.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Dangerous Age 1923 films 1920s English-language films Silent American drama films 1923 drama films First National Pictures films Films directed by John M. Stahl American silent feature films American black-and-white films 1920s American films