''The Cancelled Debt'' is a 1927 American silent

melodrama 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 ...

film, directed by

Phil Rosen Philip E. Rosen (May 8, 1888 – October 22, 1951) was an American film director and cinematographer. He directed more than 140 films between 1915 and 1949. He was born in Marienburg, German Empire (now, Malbork, Poland), grew up in Ma ...

. It stars

Rex Lease Rex Lloyd Lease (February 11, 1903 – January 3, 1966) was an American actor. He appeared in over 300 films, mainly in Poverty Row westerns. Biography Lease arrived in Hollywood in 1924. He found bit and supporting parts at Film Booking O ...

Charlotte Stevens Charlotte Stevens (1902–1946) was an American film actress of the silent era playing a mixture of lead and supporting roles.Munden p.506 Selected filmography * ''Mine to Keep'' (1923) * '' The Tornado'' (1924) * ''The Mirage'' (1924) * ''One ...

, and

Florence Turner Florence Turner (January 6, 1885 – August 28, 1946) was an American actress who became known as the "Vitagraph Girl" in early silent films. Biography Born in New York City, Turner was pushed into appearing on the stage at age three by he ...

, and was released on September 1, 1927.

Cast list

as Patrick Burke *

as June Butler *

as Mrs. Burke * Billy Sullivan as Jimmy Martin * James Gordon as Mr. Butler *

Ethel Grey Terry Ethel Grey Terry (October 2, 1882 – January 6, 1931) was an American actress of the silent era. She is best remembered for her role in '' The Penalty'' with Lon Chaney. Early years Ethel Grey Terry was born in Oakland, California, the d ...

as Mrs. Martin

Plot

June Butler is given a speeding ticket by motorcycle policeman Patrick Burke. Later, when Burke foils a robbery attempt by Jimmy Martin at the Butler residence, June, still peeved by the ticket, lies and says that Jimmy is not a burglar but her boyfriend. She gets him a job in her father's company, after she finds out he needed money to support his wife and child. June receives another ticket from Burke, this time for parking next to a

fire hydrant A fire hydrant, waterplug, or firecock (archaic) is a connection point by which firefighters can tap into a water supply. It is a component of active fire protection. Underground fire hydrants have been used in Europe and Asia since at least ...

, and her annoyance level is raised to the point that she has her father use his influence to get Burke demoted. However, after he saves June from a mugging, and later saves her and Jimmy from being attacked by Jimmy's former gang, he gets back into her good graces and the two eventually end up as a couple.

Production

In February 1927, ''The Cancelled Debt'' was on

Sterling Pictures Sterling Pictures was a film company headed by Henry Ginsberg during the silent film era. Phil Rosen directed many of Sterling's films. H. R. Ebenstein was the manager of sales. In July 1927, when the studio got rid of their foreign broker system ...

' production schedule for the year. The film went into production in early August, the last of 18 films on Sterling's schedule. The film was released on September 1.

Reception

Moving Picture World The ''Moving Picture World'' was an influential early trade journal for the American film industry, from 1907 to 1927. An industry powerhouse at its height, ''Moving Picture World'' frequently reiterated its independence from the film studios. I ...

'' said, "There have been many pictures made glorifying the police officer, some of which have been rather good and others rather terrible", but felt that this film, "with a little pruning here and there will provide satisfactory entertainment."

References

External links

* * * Films directed by Phil Rosen American silent feature films Melodrama films American black-and-white films Silent American drama films 1927 drama films 1927 films 1920s English-language films 1920s American films {{1920s-silent-drama-film-stub