''Barriers Burned Away'' is a 1925 American silent historical

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

W.S. Van Dyke Woodbridge Strong Van Dyke II (Woody) (March 21, 1889 – February 5, 1943) was an American film director and writer who made several successful early sound films, including ''Tarzan the Ape Man'' in 1932, ''The Thin Man'' in 1934, ''San Franci ...

and starring

Mabel Ballin Mabel Ballin (née Croft; January 1, 1885 – July 24, 1958), was an American motion-picture actress of the silent film era. Early life and career Mabel Croft was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 1, 1885. Some sources give 1887 as h ...

Eric Mayne Eric Mayne (April 28, 1865 – February 10, 1947) was an American actor. Mayne was born in Dublin and was a star on stage in London in the early 20th century, at the London Lyceum and at Drury Lane. He appeared in the films ''The New York Peaco ...

, and Frank Mayo. It is set at the time of the

Great Chicago Fire The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned in the American city of Chicago during October 8–10, 1871. The fire killed approximately 300 people, destroyed roughly of the city including over 17,000 structures, and left more than 10 ...

in 1871. The film is loosely adapted from the 1872 novel of the same name by

Edward Payson Roe Edward Payson Roe (March 7, 1838July 19, 1888) was an American novelist, Presbyterian minister, horticulturist and historian. Biography Edward Payson Roe was born in the village of Moodna, now part of New Windsor, New York. He studied at Willi ...

Plot

As described in a review in a film magazine, Wayne Morgan (Mayo), an artist, learns from his mother that a valuable painting has been stolen. In order to track it down, he takes a job as a porter in the Randolph Art Shop. He eventually discovers the picture has been copied and denounces the copy as lacking inspiration, claiming the original. Mellon (Morey), who stole it, is sent to prison and Wayne gets his position as store manager. Christine Randolph (Ballin), painter of the copy, whom Wayne falls in love with, then tells him it was all a plot to get even with him. The great Chicago fire breaks out, due to Mrs. Leary’s (Craig) cow kicking over a lantern, setting fire to the barn. The whole city is destroyed, and Wayne rescues Christine who declares her real love for him.

Cast

Preservation

A print of ''Barriers Burned Away'' is located in the

Cineteca Italiana Cineteca Italiana is a private film archive located in Milan, Italy, established in 1947, and as a foundation in 1996. History Established in 1947, and as a foundation in 1996, the Cineteca Italiana houses over 20,000 films and more than 100,000 ...

in Milan.Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: ''Barriers Burned Away''
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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

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Lobby card
at Getty Images. 1925 films 1925 drama films 1920s historical drama films American black-and-white films American disaster films American historical drama films American silent feature films Films based on American novels Films directed by W. S. Van Dyke Films set in 1871 Films set in Chicago Pathé Exchange films 1920s American films Silent American drama films {{1920s-silent-drama-film-stub