''A Stage Romance'' is a 1922 American silent

historical History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the History of writing#Inventions of writing, invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbr ...

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

Herbert Brenon Herbert Brenon (born Alexander Herbert Reginald St. John Brenon; 13 January 1880 – 21 June 1958) was an Irish-born U.S. film director, actor and screenwriter during the era of silent films through the 1930s. Brenon was among the early film ...

and starring

William Farnum William Farnum (July 4, 1876 – June 5, 1953) was an American actor. He was a star of American silent film cinema and became one of the highest-paid actors during that time. Biography Farnum was born on July 4, 1876, in Boston, Massachuse ...

, Peggy Shaw, and

Holmes Herbert Holmes Herbert (born Horace Edward Jenner; 30 July 1882 – 26 December 1956) was an English character actor who appeared in Hollywood films from 1915 to 1952, often as a British gentleman. Early life Born Horace Edward Jenner, (some sour ...

.Solomon, p. 276 It is an adaptation of the play ''Kean'' by

Alexandre Dumas Alexandre Dumas (, ; ; born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie (), 24 July 1802 – 5 December 1870), also known as Alexandre Dumas père (where '' '' is French for 'father', to distinguish him from his son Alexandre Dumas fils), was a French writer ...

about the adventures of the British actor

Edmund Kean Edmund Kean (4 November 178715 May 1833) was a celebrated British Shakespearean stage actor born in England, who performed, among other places, in London, Belfast, New York, Quebec, and Paris. He was known for his short stature, tumultuo ...

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 ...

, Edmund Kean (Farnum), at the height of his popularity in London, has as his inspiration the Countess Koefeld (Bonillas). Among his devoted followers is Anna Damby (Shaw), whose guardian is attempting to force her into marriage with the roue Lord Melville (Carillo). Anna goes to Edmund for advice, and Melville's spy Needles (Boring) reports at a reception, given at the Koefeld home where the Prince of Wales (Herbert) is a guest, that Edmund has eloped with Anna. Edmund arrives shortly and refutes the rumor, and hands a note to Countess Koefeld asking her to come to his dressing room. Edmund advises Anna to forget her stage ambitions. He then announces a benefit performance for a crippled child. Meanwhile, Melville lures Anna to an inn with a decoy note that has Edmund's name, intending to kidnap her. Edmund, who was entertaining at the inn, thrashes the gang of kidnappers. On the night of the benefit the Countess goes to the Kean dressing room and makes violent love to him. Her husband the Count (McAllister) and the Prince of Wales later arrive, and the Count picks up a fan that his wife had left behind in the dressing room. Edmund, believing that the Prince is a rival for the affections of the Countess, begs him not to appear in the Koefeld box after the performance begins, but the Prince refuses. Edmund discovers that the fan is missing and, angered, refuses to go on. However, when Little Emily (Goodwin) hobbles in, he relents. Edmund sees the Prince in the Koefeld box and a fit of madness seizes him. He denounces the Prince from the stage and is carried fainting to his dressing room, his career apparently ended. Edmund tells Anna that his madness was feigned. Melville sends the police to arrest Edmund. The Prince and Count Koefeld arrive and the Prince, shielding Edmund, explains that he had borrowed the fan from the Countess. The Count apologizes to the actor. Dismissing the police, the Prince tells Edmund that he had better leave England. He and Anna are married and go to America.

Cast

as Edmund Kean * Peggy Shaw as Anna Damby *

as Prince of Wales * Mario Carillo as Lord Melville * Paul McAllister as Count Koefeld *

Etienne Girardot Etienne Girardot (22 February 1856 – 10 November 1939) was a diminutive stage and film actor of Anglo-French parentage born in London, England. Biography The son of French painter Ernest Gustave Girardot, he studied at an art school, but le ...

as Salomon * Bernard Siegel as Mr. Sleeker *

Hal De Forrest George Gard "Buddy" DeSylva (January 27, 1895 – July 11, 1950) was an American songwriter, film producer and record executive. He wrote or co-wrote many popular songs and, along with Johnny Mercer and Glenn Wallichs, he co-founded Capitol Recor ...

as Old Bob

References

Bibliography

* Krefft, Vanda. ''The Man Who Made the Movies: The Meteoric Rise and Tragic Fall of William Fox''. HarperCollins, 2017. * Aubrey Solomon. ''The Fox Film Corporation, 1915–1935: A History and Filmography''. McFarland, 2011.

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Stage Romance 1922 films American silent feature films Films based on works by Alexandre Dumas Films directed by Herbert Brenon Fox Film films Films set in the 19th century American historical drama films 1920s historical drama films Films set in London American black-and-white films 1922 drama films 1920s English-language films 1920s American films Silent American drama films