''All Souls' Eve'' is a 1921 American silent

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 Chester M. Franklin and starring

Mary Miles Minter Mary Miles Minter (born Juliet Reilly; April 25, 1902Louisiana Birth Certificate, Caddo Parish, No. 119, Book A, Page 97, Birth Date: April 25, 1902, Name: Mary M. Reilly ic – Original Caddo birth record was recorded as "J.H. Riley's Child" ...

. The film is based on the mystical 1920

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 ...

play of the same name by Anne Crawford Flexner, with a story by

Elmer Blaney Harris Elmer Blaney Harris (January 11, 1878 – September 6, 1966) was an American author, dramatist, and playwright. Biography Harris was born in Chicago, Illinois as the youngest of eight children. He moved with his family to Oakland, Californ ...

. Much was made of the film's use of double, triple and quadruple exposures to enable Minter to play two parts within the same scenes. As with many of Minter's features, it is thought 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 ...

.The Library of Congress/FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: ''All Souls' Eve''
/ref>

Plot

As described in various

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 ...

reviews, Nora O'Hallahan (Minter) is a young girl living in Ireland, who firmly believes that, on All Souls' Eve, the spirits of the dead return to visit those whom they loved in life. Her mother is living in America, and Nora sails to join her. When she arrives, she finds that her mother has died, and she takes up a position as a nursemaid with the Heath family. Roger Heath is a sculptor, and he and his wife Alice (also Minter) have one young son, Peter (Moore). Olivia Larkin (Phillips) is in love with Roger, and desperately jealous of Alice Heath. When she finds that she is unable to lure Roger away from his wife, she convinces Lawson, a madman living in the local woods, that Alice Heath is the one responsible for his misfortunes. Lawson murders Alice, and Roger, devastated by his wife's death, neglects his work and his son, turning to drink and Olivia for solace. On All Souls' Eve, young Peter Heath falls seriously ill. Nora, who has been caring for him, tries to rouse Roger, but he is too drunk to respond. She sends for Dr. McAllister (Geldart), but before he can arrive, the soul of Alice Heath descends from heaven and, unable to save her son herself, transfers her love for him into Nora, who saves Peter's life. After this event, Roger finds that Nora becomes ever more like Alice in appearance and mannerisms. He asks her to pose for him so that he can complete his masterpiece of sculpture - a statue of Alice - and shuns Olivia and drink as he comes to realise that he loves Nora. Olivia is pursued to her death in a lake by the madman Lawson, and Nora becomes Roger's wife and mother to little Peter. The February 12th, 1921 edition of

Motion Picture News The ''Motion Picture News'' was an American film industry trade paper published from 1913 to 1930. History The publication was created through the 1913 merger of the ''Moving Picture News'' founded in 1908 and ''The Exhibitors' Times'', founded ...

lists a musical cue sheet for the film.

Cast

as Alice Heath / Nora O'Hallahan * Jack Holt as Roger Heath * Carmen Phillips as Olivia Larkin * Clarence Geldart as Dr. Sandy McAllister * Michael D. Moore as Peter Heath (credited as Mickey Moore) * Fanny Midgley as Mrs. O'Hallahan * Lottie Williams as Belle Emerson *

Alice Knowland Alice Knowland (1879-1930) was an American actress active during Hollywood's silent era. She specialized in playing motherly roles. Biography Knowland was born in Fort Fairfield, Maine, to Herbert Knowland and Fannie Warren. She told reporter ...

(uncredited) *

Lucien Littlefield Lucien Littlefield (August 16, 1895 – June 4, 1960) was an American actor who achieved a long career from silent films to the television era. He was noted for his versatility, playing a wide range of roles and already portraying old men befor ...

(uncredited)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:All Soul's Eve 1921 films 1921 drama films Silent American drama films American silent feature films American black-and-white films Films about reincarnation American films based on plays Lost American films Lost drama films 1921 lost films Films based on works by American writers 1920s American films Silent horror films Films directed by Chester Franklin