''The Power of a Lie'' is a 1922 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 ...

directed by

George Archainbaud George Archainbaud (May 7, 1890 – February 20, 1959) was a French-American film and television director. Biography In the beginning of his career he worked on stage as an actor and manager. He came to the United States in January 1914, and st ...

and written by Charles Kenyon. It is based on the 1908 novel ''The Power of a Lie'' by Johan Bojer. The film stars Mabel Julienne Scott, David Torrence,

Maude George Maude George (August 15, 1888 – October 10, 1963) was an American actress of the silent era. Biography Born in Riverside, California, in 1888, Maude George is remembered primarily as a regular of director Eric von Stroheim's stock compan ...

Ruby Lafayette Ruby Lafayette (July 22, 1844 – April 3, 1935) was an American film actress, known for ''Sue of the South'' (1919), ''Big Bob'' (1921) and ''The Man Trap'' (1917). She was married to John T. Curran. At age 82, Lafayette nearly died from inju ...

Earl Metcalfe Earl Metcalfe (March 11, 1889 – January 26, 1928) was an American actor. Biography Born in 1889, Metcalfe appeared in the films ''The Fortune Hunter'', ''While New York Sleeps'', ''What Women Will Do'', '' White Eagle'', ''While Justice Waits' ...

, and June Elvidge. The film was released on January 7, 1923, by

Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...

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 ...

, Richard Burton (Metcalfe), engaged to Betty (Scott), the sister of his friend John Hammond (Torrence), has led a drunken and generally dissipated existence. Despite his wife Joan's (George) injunction to let Richard shift for himself, John resolves to give Richard a final chance to become respectful. He endorses Richard's note for $10,000 to let the latter start an architectural business. Richard hopes that by hard work and success to win back Betty, who has broken their engagement. Betty's determination to drop Richard is the result of her reading of a wild orgy in which he took part. John was also present at the occasion as that was when he endorsed Richard's note. In order to shield his reputation, John evades his wife's question regarding the financial aid given Richard and denies that he was at the party. John's lie leads to a big social scandal with Richard branded as a forger, and a number of complications result. One lie leads to another, and it is not until a trial takes place that vindicates Richard is the tangle straightened out. Richard reestablishes himself in Betty's favor.

Cast

* Mabel Julienne Scott as Betty Hammond * David Torrence as John Hammond *

as Joan Hammond *

as Mrs. Hammond *

as Richard Burton * June Elvidge as Lily Cardington *

Phillips Smalley Wendell Phillips Smalley (August 7, 1865 – May 2, 1939) was an American silent film director and actor. Biography Born in Brooklyn, New York, he was the grandson of Wendell Phillips; he was the son of George Washburn Smalley, a war corres ...

as Jeremiah Smith * Stanton Heck as Mr. Lawrence *

Winston Miller Winston Miller (June 22, 1910 – June 21, 1994) was an American screenwriter, film producer, and actor. He wrote for more than 60 films and television shows between 1936 and 1976. He began as an actor in silent films, appearing in eleven fi ...

as Julian Hammond

Preservation

With no copies of ''The Power of a Lie'' located in any film archives, it is a

lost film A lost film is a feature Feature may refer to: Computing * Feature (CAD), could be a hole, pocket, or notch * Feature (computer vision), could be an edge, corner or blob * Feature (software design) is an intentional distinguishing char ...

.The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: ''The Power of a Lie''
/ref>

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Power Of A Lie 1922 films 1920s English-language films Silent American drama films 1922 drama films Universal Pictures films Films directed by George Archainbaud American silent feature films American black-and-white films 1920s American films