''The First Night'' is a 1927 American silent

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by Richard Thorpe and starring

Bert Lytell Bertram Lytell (February 24, 1885 – September 28, 1954) was an American actor in theater and film during the silent film era and early talkies. He starred in romantic, melodrama, and adventure films. Background Born in New York City, Lyt ...

Dorothy Devore Dorothy Devore (born Alma Inez Williams; June 22, 1899 – September 10, 1976) was an American silent film actress and comedian. Early life Born as Alma Inez Williams in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 22, 1899, her family soon moved to Los Angele ...

, and

Harry Myers Harry C. Myers (September 5, 1882 – December 25, 1938) was an American film actor and director, sometimes credited as Henry Myers. He performed in many short comedy films with his wife Rosemary Theby. Myers appeared in 330 films between 1908 ...

.Munden p. 248 It was produced and distributed by the

independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...

Tiffany Pictures Tiffany Pictures, which also became Tiffany-Stahl Productions for a time, was a Hollywood motion picture studio in operation from 1921 until 1932. It is considered a Poverty Row studio, whose films had lower budgets, lesser-known stars, and overall ...

. The film's sets were designed by the art director Edwin B. Willis.

Synopsis

When a couple announce an engagement, they are both confronted by former associates who claim that they are either married or engaged already. They decide to

elope Elopement is a term that is used in reference to a marriage which is conducted in a sudden and secretive fashion, usually involving a hurried flight away from one's place of residence together with one's beloved with the intention of getting ma ...

, but things do not go entirely to plan.

Cast

as Dr. Richard Bard *

as Doris Frazer *

as Hotel Detective *

Frederick Ko Vert Frederick Kovert (sometimes written Ko Vert or KoVert) was an American female impersonator. Kovert appeared in drag in a number of comic roles in silent films of the 1920s. His first film role was in the 1920 film '' An Adventuress'', alongside ...

as Mimi / Jack White *

Walter Hiers Walter Hiers (July 18, 1893 – February 27, 1933) was an American silent film actor. Biography Born in 1893, during his two decade-long acting career spanning from 1912 to 1932, Hiers acted in 101 films. He was a particularly prolific actor w ...

as Mr. Cleveland *

Lila Leslie Lila Leslie (1 January 1890 – 8 September 1940) was a Scottish actress of the silent era. She appeared in more than 70 films between 1913 and 1933. She was born in Glasgow, Scotland and died in Los Angeles, California. Selected filmogra ...

as Mrs. Cleveland * James T. Mack as The Drunk *

Hazel Keener Hazel Keener (October 22, 1904 – August 7, 1979) was a motion picture actress from Fairbury, Illinois. She was raised in Davenport, Iowa. Keener won a national beauty contest sponsored by the Chicago Tribune and used her success to begi ...

as Miss Leeds *

Joan Standing Joan Standing (21 June 1903 – 3 February 1979) was an English actress best known for playing Nurse Briggs in the 1931 horror film ''Dracula''. She appeared in more than 60 films between 1919 and 1940. Partial filmography * ''The Loves of ...

as Mrs. Miller

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

* 1927 films 1927 comedy films 1920s English-language films American silent feature films Silent American comedy films American black-and-white films Films directed by Richard Thorpe Tiffany Pictures films 1920s American films {{1920s-US-film-stub