The Man From Blankley's
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''The Man from Blankley's'' is a
lost Lost may refer to getting lost, or to: Geography *Lost, Aberdeenshire, a hamlet in Scotland * Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, or LOST, a hiking and cycling trail in Florida, US History *Abbreviation of lost work, any work which is known to have bee ...
1930 American
pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was the brief era in the American film industry between the widespread adoption of sound in film in 1929LaSalle (2002), p. 1. and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorship guidelines, popularly known ...
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 Alfred E. Green. It starred
John Barrymore John Barrymore (born John Sidney Blyth; February 14 or 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942) was an American actor on stage, screen and radio. A member of the Drew and Barrymore theatrical families, he initially tried to avoid the stage, and briefly att ...
and
Loretta Young Loretta Young (born Gretchen Young; January 6, 1913 – August 12, 2000) was an American actress. Starting as a child, she had a long and varied career in film from 1917 to 1953. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the fil ...
. The film was based on the 1903 play by
Thomas Anstey Guthrie Thomas Anstey Guthrie (8 August 1856 – 10 March 1934) was an English author (writing as F. Anstey), most noted for his comic novel '' Vice Versa'' about a boarding-school boy and his father exchanging identities. His reputation was confirmed ...
, writing under the pseudonym "F. Anstey". The film was Barrymore's second
feature length A feature film or feature-length film is a narrative film (motion picture or "movie") with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole presentation in a commercial entertainment program. The term ''feature film'' originall ...
all-talking film. A previous silent film version of Anstey's play by Paramount Pictures appeared in 1920 as '' The Fourteenth Man'' starring Robert Warwick. That version is also lost.


Plot

The trouble begins when Lord Strathpeffer (John Barrymore), who is on his way to visit an
Egyptologist Egyptology (from ''Egypt'' and Greek , '' -logia''; ar, علم المصريات) is the study of ancient Egyptian history, language, literature, religion, architecture and art from the 5th millennium BC until the end of its native religiou ...
with a case of instruments used by entomologists, loses his way in the fog and wanders into the home (who lives next door to the Egyptologist) of a woman who is hosting a fancy dinner. Mr. and Mrs. Tidmarsh (
Dick Henderson Richard Henderson (20 March 1891 – 15 October 1958) was an English music hall comedian, singer and character actor. Life and career Dick Henderson was born in Sculcoates, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, the son of a machinist. He was an app ...
and
Emily Fitzroy Emily Fitzroy (24 May 1860 – 3 March 1954) was an English theatre and film actress who eventually became an American citizen. She was at one time a leading lady in London for Sir Charles Wyndham. She made her film debut in 1915. Her debut i ...
), a middle-class English couple, are giving a dinner party in honor of their wealthy uncle, Gabriel Gilwattle (
Albert Gran Albert Gran (August 4, 1862 – December 16, 1932) was a Norwegian-born American stage and film actor. He is most associated with his appearance in drama and light comedy films. Biography Albert Gran was born in Bergen, Norway. He was the s ...
), hoping to receive his financial aid in their struggle to keep up appearances. As a result of many of the invitees informing Mrs. Tidmarsh that they could not attend her party, she believes that only 13 guests will show up. As Gilwattle is a superstitious man, Mrs. Tidmarsh sends to the Blankley Employment Agency to send them a distinguished looking man to serve as a guest. In the meantime some other guests inform Fitzroy that they won't be able to come and the hired man is no longer needed. She informs the agency that the man is no longer needed. Nevertheless, when Barrymore arrives at the door, they automatically assume that he was sent by the agency and invite him in to dinner. Mayhem ensues. Margery Seaton (Loretta Young), one of the dinner guests, recognizes Barrymore as a former lover, and therefore assumes him to be an impostor. Sobering, Strathpeffer realizes he has come to the wrong party and asserts his right to his title; but Gwennie (
Angella Mawby The Mawby Triplets were three English child actors who starred in several films in Hollywood and in England during the 1920s and 1930s. While the three girls were sisters, they were not actually triplets. Angella Mawby was born on 20 August 1921 ...
) hides her father's watch in Strathpeffer's pocket as he is renewing his romance with Margery. A police inspector arrives hunting for the missing lord, establishing his authenticity and the fact that he is not, after all, the hired guest.


Cast

*
John Barrymore John Barrymore (born John Sidney Blyth; February 14 or 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942) was an American actor on stage, screen and radio. A member of the Drew and Barrymore theatrical families, he initially tried to avoid the stage, and briefly att ...
as Lord Strathpeffer *
Loretta Young Loretta Young (born Gretchen Young; January 6, 1913 – August 12, 2000) was an American actress. Starting as a child, she had a long and varied career in film from 1917 to 1953. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the fil ...
as Margery Seaton * William Austin as Mr. Poffley *
Albert Gran Albert Gran (August 4, 1862 – December 16, 1932) was a Norwegian-born American stage and film actor. He is most associated with his appearance in drama and light comedy films. Biography Albert Gran was born in Bergen, Norway. He was the s ...
as Uncle Gabriel Gilwattle *
Emily Fitzroy Emily Fitzroy (24 May 1860 – 3 March 1954) was an English theatre and film actress who eventually became an American citizen. She was at one time a leading lady in London for Sir Charles Wyndham. She made her film debut in 1915. Her debut i ...
as Mrs. Tidmarsh *
Yorke Sherwood Yorke Sherwood (14 December 1873 – 27 September 1956) was an English actor. Life He was born Herbert Edmund Sherwood in Manchester on 14 December 1873. He moved to California in the 1920s and had multiple supporting roles in Mack Sennett ...
as Mr. Bodfish * Dale Fuller as Miss Flinders *
D'Arcy Corrigan D'Arcy Corrigan (2 January 1870 – 25 December 1945) was an Irish lawyer who became an American film character actor. Life and career D'Arcy Corrigan was born in County Cork, playing over 50 film roles from 1925–1945. His early career inc ...
- Mr. Ditchwater *
Louise Carver Louise Carver (June 9, 1869 - June 19, 1956) was an American actress who performed in grand opera, stage, nickelodeon, and motion pictures. Early years and career Born Mary Louise Steiger in Davenport, Iowa, she was the daughter of Mr. and Mr ...
as Mrs Gilwattle *
Dick Henderson Richard Henderson (20 March 1891 – 15 October 1958) was an English music hall comedian, singer and character actor. Life and career Dick Henderson was born in Sculcoates, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, the son of a machinist. He was an app ...
as Mr. Tidmarsh *
Edgar Norton Edgar Norton (born Harry Edgar Mills; August 11, 1868 – February 6, 1953) was an English-born American character actor. Early years Norton was born in Islington in London, England, on August 11, 1868, as Harry Edgar Mills, one of eight childr ...
as Dawes *Diana Hope as Mrs. Bodfish *
May Milloy May Milloy (January 25, 1875 – November 18, 1967) was an American actress on Broadway, in vaudeville, and in several films. Early life May Milloy is usually described as Dublin-born, however some reviews mentioned Montreal as her home. She ...
as Mrs. Ditchwater *
Angella Mawby The Mawby Triplets were three English child actors who starred in several films in Hollywood and in England during the 1920s and 1930s. While the three girls were sisters, they were not actually triplets. Angella Mawby was born on 20 August 1921 ...
as Gwennie *
Gwendolyn Logan Gwendolyn Logan was a British-born American actress and screenwriter. Career Born in Bellary, British India, she co-wrote the 1916 British film '' East Is East'', and the 1920 American film, ''A Tokyo Siren''. Acting roles included an uncredite ...
as Maid * Sybil Grove as Maid


1903 play

The play premiered in London in 1903 at the
Prince of Wales Theatre The Prince of Wales Theatre is a West End theatre in Coventry Street, near Leicester Square in London. It was established in 1884 and rebuilt in 1937, and extensively refurbished in 2004 by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, its current owner. The theatre ...
and was revived in 1906 at the Haymarket Theatre to much success. It played on
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
at the Criterion Theatre, from September 16 to November 1903, for 79 performances, before playing in Washington DC, Detroit and Chicago. It starred the British actors Sir Charles Hawtrey, Arthur Playfair and Faith Stone.


Reception


Box Office

According to Warner Bros records the film earned $311,000 domestically and $47,000 foreign.


Critical

The '' Outlook and Independent'' praised the film, stating that Barrymore had "reverted to type" and contributed in making a film that was a "highly entertaining and fantastic farse" and "one of the strangest and most delightfully insane comedies to reach the screen in years".


Preservation

The film is now considered to be 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 ...
. It was not available for television in the 1950s when Warners prepared many of their early talkies for 16mm acquisition by
Associated Artists Productions Associated Artists Productions, Inc. (a.a.p.) later known as United Artists Associated was an American distributor of theatrical feature films and subjects for television. Associated Artists Productions was the copyright owner of the ''Popey ...
. The soundtrack survives on
Vitaphone Vitaphone was a sound film system used for feature films and nearly 1,000 short subjects made by Warner Bros. and its sister studio First National from 1926 to 1931. Vitaphone was the last major analog sound-on-disc system and the only one ...
discs, but all visual elements (print, negative, trailers and outtakes) are believed to be lost, with the exception of photographs (or stills) taken on the set during production. In December 1967, this film was included to AFI's "rescue list". Nitrate Won't Wait: A History of Film Preservation in the United States
Page 88


See also

* List of lost films *
List of incomplete or partially lost films A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to: People * List (surname) Organizations * List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America * SC Germania List, German rugby unio ...


References

Notes Bibliography * * * *


External links

* * *
still of John Barrymore from the movie
{{DEFAULTSORT:Man From Blankley's, The 1903 plays 1930 films Films directed by Alfred E. Green 1930 comedy films 1930s English-language films American black-and-white films Lost American films Warner Bros. films Films set in London American comedy films 1930 lost films Lost comedy films 1930s American films Remakes of American films