''The Jack-Knife Man'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by

King Vidor King Wallis Vidor (; February 8, 1894 – November 1, 1982) was an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter whose 67-year film-making career successfully spanned the silent and sound eras. His works are distinguished by a vivid, ...

and his debut film with First National. A story of Christian charity and the virtues of self-help, the work reflects his "Creed and Pledge", a declaration of his artistic principles published the same year. Prints of the film survive in several film archives.

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 ...

, Peter Lane (Turner), known as the "jack-knife man" because he spends his time whittling objects from wood, selling them to earn a living, loves and is loved by the Widow Potter (Leighton), desisting from matrimony for reasons known only to himself. When a hungry child, "Buddy," comes to his houseboat in quest of food, Peter asks and receives the aid of the Widow Potter. Returning to the boat he finds the boy's mother, dying, and he buries her and adopts the boy. A while later a tramp, "Booge," joins the queer family and refuses to be ousted. The three become inseparable companions. Then a busybody parson seizes the boy and insists on finding a home for him, placing him with the Widow Potter. Time passes and Peter becomes widely sought as a maker of wooden toys. After some developments of a startling nature, his financial position improves, and Peter marries the widow and all are happy.

Cast

* F. A. Turner as Peter Lane (credited as Fred Turner) * Harry Todd as 'Booge' * Bobby Kelso as 'Buddy' * Willis Marks as Rasmer Briggles * Lillian Leighton as Widow Potter *

James Corrigan James Corrigan (17 October 1867 – 28 February 1929), was an American actor. He appeared in 16 films between 1920 and 1927. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, and died in Los Angeles, California. Married to actress Lillian Elliott, Corrigan w ...

as George Rapp *

Claire McDowell Claire McDowell ( MacDowell; November 2, 1877 – October 23, 1966) was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 350 films between 1908 and 1945. Early years Claire MacDowell was born in New York City on November 2, 1877, the ...

as Lize Merdin (credited as Claire MacDowell) *

Charles Arling Charles Arling (22 August 1875 – 21 April 1922) was a Canadian actor of the silent era. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1909 and 1922. He was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and died on 21 April 1922 from pneumonia at the age ...

as The Doctor *

Florence Vidor Florence Vidor (née Cobb, later Arto; July 23, 1895 – November 3, 1977) was an American silent film actress. Early life Vidor was born in Houston on July 23, 1895, to John and Ida Cobb. Her parents had married in Houston on March 3, 1894, bu ...

as Mrs. Marcia Montgomery * Irene Yeager as Susie (credited as Irene Yaeger) * Carol Marshall as Jane *

Anna Dodge Anna Dodge (October 18, 1867 – May 4, 1945) was an American silent film actress. Anna Dodge married silent film actor George Hernandez and was frequently credited as Anna Hernandez. Filmography 1910s * ''Making a Man of Him'' (1911) * ''O ...

as Undetermined Role (credited as Mrs. George Hernandez)

Production

''The Jack Knife Man'' was the first picture filmed at Vidor's newly constructed 15-acre studio, "Vidor Village" in Hollywood, California. The new studio was part of a joint venture by

and First National to create films, independent of the major studios, to show at First National's numerous theaters. Vidor paid for the construction of Vidor Village with a portion his $75,000 advance from the exhibitors. Exterior scenes were filmed in Stockton, California.

Theme

Vidor issued his "Creed and Pledge" in

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

magazine shortly before directing ''The Jack-Knife Man'', a manifesto of his artistic and social ideals inspired by the precepts of Christian Science:

I believe in the motion picture that carries a message to humanity. I believe in the picture that will help humanity to free itself from the shackles of fear and suffering that have so long bound it in chains. I will not knowingly produce a picture that contains anything that i do not believe to be absolutely true to human nature, anything that could injure anyone or anything unclean in thought or action. Nor will I deliberately portray anything to cause fright, suggest fear, glorify mischief, condone cruelty or extenuate malice. I will never picture evil or wrong, except to prove the fallacy of its line. So long as I direct pictures, i will make only those founded on the principles of right, and I will endeavor to draw upon the inexhaustible source of good for my stories, my guidance and my inspiration.

A story of human redemption, the protagonists are rewarded with ultimate success, but only after a bitter struggle with nature in a desolate and threatening landscape, reflecting Vidor's own "ambivalence towards nature". Despite a number of humorous interludes and the happy ending, the overall effect of the film is one of "relentless realism".Baxter 1976, p. 11
Callahan, 2007: "...a small variation on Silas Marner that showed the director thinking through the idea of Christian charity".

Footnotes

References

* Brownlow, Kevin and Kobal, John. 1979. ''Hollywood: The Pioneers''. Alfred A. Knopf Inc. A Borzoi Book, New York. * Durgnat, Raymond and Simmon, Scott. 1988. ''King Vidor, American.'' University of California Press, Berkeley. *Callahan, Dan. 2007. ''Vidor, King.'' Senses of Cinema. February 2007, Issue 42 http://sensesofcinema.com/2007/great-directors/vidor/ Retrieved June 10, 2020.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Jack-Knife Man, The 1920 films 1920 drama films Silent American drama films American silent feature films American black-and-white films Films directed by King Vidor First National Pictures films 1920s American films