''Without Mercy'' is a 1925 American silent

melodrama film A modern melodrama is a dramatic work in which the plot, typically sensationalized and for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodramas typically concentrate on dialogue that is often bombastic or exces ...

directed by

George Melford George H. Melford (born George Henry Knauff, February 19, 1877 – April 25, 1961) was an American stage and film actor and director. Often taken for granted as a director today, the stalwart Melford's name by the 1920s was, like Cecil B. DeMil ...

and starring

Dorothy Phillips Dorothy Phillips (born Dorothy Gwendolyn Strible, October 30, 1889 – March 1, 1980) was an American stage and film actress. She is known for her emotional performances in melodramas, having played a number of "brow beaten" women on screen, bu ...

and

Vera Reynolds Vera Reynolds (born Vera Nancy Reynolds; November 25, 1899 – April 22, 1962) was an American film actress. Early life and career Born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1899, Reynolds first worked in films at age 12. She began as a dancer, worke ...

. It was distributed by

Producers Distributing Corporation Producers Distributing Corporation was a short-lived Hollywood film distribution company, organized in 1924 and dissolved in March 1927. In its brief heyday, film director Cecil B. DeMille was its primary shareholder and major talent. Corporat ...

Plot

As described in a film magazine reviews, Sir Melmoth Craven, a British political leader, seeks to borrow a huge amount of money to defray the expense of his election to Parliament. He is turned down by Garth and Garth, Ltd., and obtains the money from Madame Gordon, an underworld moneylender, at usurious rates. Mrs. Enid Garth, head of the former house, learns of the deal. Trouble arises when Sir Melmoth and Margaret Garth, daughter of the woman, become involved in each other. John Orme, Margaret's fiancé and also a Member of Parliament, becomes disgruntled. Mrs. Garth enters the scene and orders Melmoth to leave. When she learns of her daughter's infatuation with Melmoth, she proves to Margaret that Melmoth is a beast by showing her shoulders, which bear the scars made by Melmoth twenty years earlier. John and Melmoth become political opponents in the election. Melmoth wins and then accuses his opponent of fraud, and John is put in jail. Melmoth expects to win Margaret, but at this time he is asked to pay back his loan. He kidnaps Margaret and places her on a barge with dynamite. John gets out of jail in time to swim to the barge where he rescues Margaret just in time to save her from being blown into atoms. Melmoth is apprehended and convicted of his crimes.

Cast

Preservation status

A print of ''Without Mercy'' is held at the

UCLA Film and Television Archive The UCLA Film & Television Archive is a visual arts organization focused on the preservation, study, and appreciation of film and television, based at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Also a nonprofit exhibition venue, the archiv ...

. The Library of Congress / FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: ''Without Mercy''
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References

External links

* * 1925 films American silent feature films Films directed by George Melford Producers Distributing Corporation films American black-and-white films Melodrama films 1925 drama films Silent American drama films 1920s American films {{1920s-silent-drama-film-stub