''The Show-Off'' is a 1926 American

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

comedy produced by

Famous Players-Lasky Famous Players-Lasky Corporation was an American motion picture and distribution company formed on June 28, 1916, from the merger of Adolph Zukor's Famous Players Film Company—originally formed by Zukor as Famous Players in Famous Plays—and ...

and distributed by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

, based on the play of the same name by George Kelly. Directed by

Mal St. Clair Malcolm St. Clair (May 17, 1897 – June 1, 1952) was a Hollywood film director, writer, producer and actor. Biography A disciple of Mack Sennett, St. Clair was an actor in many films primarily comedies. At 6'7" he can be seen in such Sennett ...

, the film stars

Ford Sterling Ford Sterling (born George Ford Stich Jr.; November 3, 1883 – October 13, 1939) was an American comedian and actor best known for his work with Keystone Studios. One of the 'Big 4', he was the original chief of the Keystone Cops. Biography ...

, Lois Wilson and

Louise Brooks Mary Louise Brooks (November 14, 1906 – August 8, 1985) was an American film actress and dancer during the 1920s and 1930s. She is regarded today as an icon of the Jazz Age and flapper culture, in part due to the bob hairstyle that she helpe ...

. It's one of two films that co-starred popular Broadway actor Gregory Kelly (first husband of Ruth Gordon) who died shortly after ''The Show-Off'' wrapped production. The film was produced in Philadelphia and New York City thus becoming a sort of time capsule record of buildings long gone and neighborhoods changed.

Cast

as Aubrey Piper * Lois Wilson as Amy Fisher Piper *

as Clara, Joe's Girl *Gregory Kelly as Joe Fisher *

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 Mom Fisher *Charles Goodrich as Pop Fisher *

Joseph W. Smiley Joseph W. Smiley (born June 18, 1870, in Boston, Massachusetts) was an actor and director in the United States. His films include ''The Gray Horror'' (1915), ''The Other Sister'' (1915) and ''The Living Fear'' (1914), as well as many other films ...

as Railroad Executive

Preservation status

Preserved at the Library of Congress, the film can be found in near mint condition on a Library of Congress related DVD.

Remakes

The film has been remade a number of times: * with

Hal Skelly Hal Skelly (James Harold Skelley; May 31, 1891 – June 16, 1934) was an American Broadway and film actor. Biography He was born James Harold Skelley in Alleghenyville, Pennsylvania to James and Martha Skelley. His family moved to Daven ...

and

Doris Hill Doris Hill (March 21, 1905 – March 3, 1976), born Roberta M. Hill, was an American film actress of the 1920s and 1930s. Early years Born and raised in Roswell, New Mexico, Hill was the daughter of rancher William A. Hill. She was educated ...

as ''

Men Are Like That ''Men Are Like That'' is a 1930 American pre-Code drama film directed by Frank Tuttle and written by Herman J. Mankiewicz and Marion Dix, based on the George Kelly play ''The Show-Off'', which had already been the source material for a 1926 s ...

'' (1930). * as ''

The Show-Off ''The Show-Off'' is a 1924 stage play by George Kelly about a working-class North Philadelphian family's reluctance to accept their daughter's suitor Aubrey Piper, an overly confident Socialist buffoon. The play has been revived five times on Bro ...

'' (1934) with

Spencer Tracy Spencer Bonaventure Tracy (April 5, 1900 – June 10, 1967) was an American actor. He was known for his natural performing style and versatility. One of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, Tracy was the first actor to win two cons ...

Madge Evans Madge Evans (born Margherita Evans; July 1, 1909 – April 26, 1981) was an American stage and film actress.Obituary ''Variety'', April 29, 1981. She began her career as a child performer and model. Biography Child model and stage actress B ...

, and Lois Wilson in a different role. * as ''

'' (1946) with

Red Skelton Richard Red Skelton (July 18, 1913September 17, 1997) was an American entertainer best known for his national radio and television shows between 1937 and 1971, especially as host of the television program ''The Red Skelton Show''. He has stars ...

and Marilyn Maxwell.''The Show-Off'' as originally produced on Broadway at the Playhouse Theatre, Feb. 5 1924 to June 1925; IBDb.com
/ref> *On February 2, 1955, a 60-minute version of the play aired on the

CBS Television CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

series ''

The Best of Broadway ''The Best of Broadway'' is a 60-minute live television anthology series that aired on CBS Television on Wednesdays at 10p.m. Eastern Standard Time from September 15, 1954, to May 4, 1955, for a total of nine episodes. Each show was broadcast liv ...

''.

References

External links

*
''The Show-Off'' at SilentEra
1926 films American silent feature films Films directed by Malcolm St. Clair Famous Players-Lasky films Silent American comedy films 1926 comedy films American films based on plays American black-and-white films 1920s American films 1920s English-language films {{1920s-silent-comedy-film-stub