''The Devil's Claim'' is a 1920 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 ...

starring

Sessue Hayakawa , known professionally as , was a Japanese actor and a matinée idol. He was a popular star in Hollywood during the silent film era of the 1910s and early 1920s. Hayakawa was the first actor of Asian descent to achieve stardom as a leading man i ...

and

Colleen Moore Colleen Moore (born Kathleen Morrison; August 19, 1899 – January 25, 1988) was an American film actress who began her career during the silent film era. Moore became one of the most fashionable (and highly-paid) stars of the era and helped po ...

. A print of this film survives.

Story

As summarized in a film publication, Akbar Khan, a novelist in New York, uses his love affairs as inspiration for his books. His current affair is with Indora, a Persian girl. However, the passion has left the relationship and he casts her out. Social worker Virginia Crosby comes to her aid and pretends to fall for Khan. He is inspired to write about "The Devil’s Trademark" (this was the working title of the film), an adaption of a serial for a popular magazine. The film flashes to his vision of the story, which is set in Paris with Khan as the hero Hassan. Hassan's companion in the story is a beautiful Hindu woman. The story includes a stolen

talisman A talisman is any object ascribed with religious or magical powers intended to protect, heal, or harm individuals for whom they are made. Talismans are often portable objects carried on someone in a variety of ways, but can also be installed perm ...

, a blindfolded marriage, Egyptian sorceresses, a sect of devil worshipers, and reincarnated evil spirits. Virginia then leaves Khan before the story is finished, and sends for Indora, who steps into her place.

Cast

as Akbar Khan/Hassan *

Rhea Mitchell Rhea Ginger Mitchell (December 10, 1890 – September 16, 1957) was an American film actress and screenwriter who appeared in over 100 films, mainly during the silent era. A native of Portland, Oregon, Mitchell began her acting career in lo ...

as Virginia Crosby *

as Indora * William Buckley as Spencer Wellington *

Sidney Payne Sidney may refer to: People * Sidney (surname), English surname * Sidney (given name), including a list of people with the given name * Sidney (footballer, born 1972), full name Sidney da Silva Souza, Brazilian football defensive midfielder * ...

as Kemal * Joe Wray as Salim

References

Bibliography

*Jeff Codori (2012), ''Colleen Moore; A Biography of the Silent Film Star''
McFarland Publishing
(Print , EBook ).

External links

Alt Film Guide page for the film

BFI page for the film
* *
NY Times review

1920 films American silent feature films Films based on short fiction Silent American drama films 1920 drama films Haworth Pictures Corporation films American black-and-white films Film Booking Offices of America films 1920s American films {{1920s-US-film-stub