''The Grasp of Greed'' is a 1916 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

Joe De Grasse Joseph Louis De Grasse (May 4, 1873 – May 25, 1940) was a Canadian film director. Born in Bathurst, New Brunswick, he was the elder brother of actor Sam De Grasse. Biography Joseph De Grasse had studied and was a first-class graduate of ac ...

, written by Ida May Park, and starring

Lon Chaney Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (April 1, 1883 – August 26, 1930) was an American actor. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and affli ...

and Louise Lovely. The screenplay was adapted from an 1888

H. Rider Haggard Sir Henry Rider Haggard (; 22 June 1856 – 14 May 1925) was an English writer of adventure fiction romances set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa, and a pioneer of the lost world literary genre. He was also involved in land reform t ...

story called "Mr. Meeson's Will". The film was released in England as ''Mr. Meeson's Will''. The plot concerns a

marooned Marooned may refer to: * Marooning, the intentional act of abandoning someone in an uninhabited area Film and television * ''Marooned'' (1933 film), a British drama film * ''Marooned'' (1969 film), an American science-fiction film * ''Marooned ...

man's

will Will may refer to: Common meanings * Will and testament, instructions for the disposition of one's property after death * Will (philosophy), or willpower * Will (sociology) * Will, volition (psychology) * Will, a modal verb - see Shall and wi ...

tattoo A tattoo is a form of body modification made by inserting tattoo ink, dyes, and/or pigments, either indelible or temporary, into the dermis layer of the skin to form a design. Tattoo artists create these designs using several tattooing ...

ed on the back of a woman. Chaney had a relatively small part in the film, but in one scene, he does a few dance steps, which show off his grace and agility. An incomplete print of the film exists in the George Eastman House Film Archive (approximately half the film), but it appears all of the Chaney footage is in this surviving portion. Three stills from the film still exist as well, one of which shows Chaney being arrested.

Plot

John Meeson is a skinflint publisher who has acquired the copyright to a book by Alice Gordon for a small sum of money, which she is forced to accept because she so desperately needs the money to care for her invalid sister. When the book becomes a best-seller, Alice tries to get Mr. Meeson to give her some more money. Meeson tells Alice that not only does he own this particular book, but any and all of her future works as well, as specified in the contract she signed. Alice bursts into tears, and Meeson's nephew Eustace, who arrives during the meeting, scolds his uncle for the way he treats his authors. Furious that Eustace has defied him, Meeson rewrites his will and disinherits his nephew. Alice returns home to discover that her invalid sister has passed away. Eustace visits Alice and learns of her sister's death, but when he returns a month later, he finds that Alice has left the country. Alice has taken a steamship to Australia planning to sign a deal with another publisher when she gets there, so Meeson books passage on the same boat, hoping to stop Alice from leaving his employ. Alice is befriended by Lady Holmhurst, who learns that Alice is the author of that "highly acclaimed book the social set is all reading". During the voyage the ship is wrecked, and everyone makes a mad dash for the life boats. Alice saves Lady Holmhurst's son, Dicky, from drowning while Meeson tries to buy a seat for himself in one of the lifeboats. Meeson dives into the ocean in panic but Alice persuades the sailors to save him. The boat lands on a desert island and Meeson is taken ill. He expresses a desire to rewrite his will, deciding to leave his estate to his nephew after all, but he has nothing to write with! Alice has a sailor named Jimmie (Lon Chaney) tattoo Meeson's entire will on her back before he dies. The sailors drunkenly gamble away their winnings, then gamble for possession of Alice, but as they fight over the frightened young lady, they all fall off a cliff and are killed. Alice and Dicky are rescued by a passing steamship and arrive in Liverpool. Alice goes to court to display Meeson's final will tattooed on her back and Eustace receives his rightful inheritance. Eustace proposes marriage to Alice, and they settle down in the old Meeson home.

Cast

Louise Lovely Louise Lovely (born Nellie Louise Carbasse; 28 February 1895 – 18 March 1980) was an Australian film actress of Swiss-Italian descent. She is credited by film historians for being the first Australian actress to have a successful career i ...

as Alice Gordon * C. Norman Hammond as John Meeson, the publisher *

Jay Belasco Jay Belasco (January 11, 1888 May 1, 1949), born Reginald James Belasco, was an American film actor whose career mostly involved silent film. Belasco was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was a cousin of actors Walter Belasco and David Belasco. H ...

as Eustace (Meeson's nephew) *

Gretchen Lederer Gretchen Lederer (née. Schwallenback, 23 May 1891 – 20 December 1955) was a German actress of the silent era. She appeared in more than 80 films between 1912 and 1918. Personal life Gretchen Lederer was born in Cologne, Germany. She was mar ...

as Lady Holmhurst *

as Jimmie, the sailor *

Lillian Leighton Lillianne Brown Leighton (May 17, 1874 – March 19, 1956), known professionally as Lillian Leighton, was an American silent film actress. Leighton started her career in Chicago. Leighton was born in Auroraville, Wisconsin, on May 17, 187 ...

Louise Emmons Louise Emmons (January 7, 1858 – March 6, 1935) was an American character actress. She appeared in several films between 1914 and 1935. Early years Information about her early life is contradictory. Older sources give 1852 or 1861 as her bi ...

as a Shipwreck Survivor (uncredited)

Reception

"Wills have been more or less prominent in motion pictures since their inception. But this is probably the first time a document of such legal important has been tattoed on the smooth white back of a young lady. This is the most prominent feature of ''The Grasp of Greed''. Louise Lovely appears as the heroine and it is on her back that the important will is inscribed...Lon Chaney in a comedy role is excellent, while the supporting cast is capable to a satisfactory degree." ---Motion Picture News "...The joker will not overlook the opportunity for a laugh when the judge orders (the will) to be produced in court, considering that it is tattooed on a young lady's shapely back...The characterization has been nicely handled and presents some fine types. The settings of the production, which are at times very pleasing and appropriate, exhibit at other times a carelessness of detail which is noticeable especially in the cheap quality of curtains, draperies, etc." ---Moving Picture World "''The Grasp of Greed'' is one of the very best examples of how a scenario reader can go wrong, and the one that picked this novel for the purpose of having a picturization made should be taken into a back yard with the rest of the live stock and penned up there so he can do no further damage in the future." ---Variety

References

External links

* *
''The Grasp of Greed''
at Lonchaney.org {{DEFAULTSORT:Grasp of Greed, The 1916 films 1916 drama films Silent American drama films American silent feature films American black-and-white films Films based on British novels Films based on works by H. Rider Haggard Films directed by Joseph De Grasse Universal Pictures films 1910s American films