''The Tavern Knight'' is a 1920 British silent

historical film A historical drama (also period drama, costume drama, and period piece) is a work set in a past time period, usually used in the context of film and television. Historical drama includes historical fiction and romances, adventure films, and swa ...

directed by

Maurice Elvey Maurice Elvey (11 November 1887 – 28 August 1967) was one of the most prolific film directors in British history. He directed nearly 200 films between 1913 and 1957. During the silent film era he directed as many as twenty films per year. He a ...

and starring

Eille Norwood Eille Norwood (born Anthony Edward Brett; 11 October 1861 – 24 December 1948) was an English stage actor, director, and playwright best known today for playing Sherlock Holmes in a series of silent films. Early life He was born 11 October 18 ...

Madge Stuart Madge Stuart (5 August 1895, in Holmesfield, Derbyshire – 10 October 1958, in Monte Carlo, Monaco) was a British actress of the silent era. She married Dion Titheradge in 1928. Selected filmography * '' Nature's Gentleman'' (1918) * '' The ...

and

Cecil Humphreys Cecil Humphreys (1883–1947) was a British film and theatre actor who played in 46 films between 1916 and 1948, mostly in supporting roles as doctors, aristocrats, and generals. Among his best-known roles were Judge Linton, in the 1939 version ...

. It was based on the 1904 novel '' The Tavern Knight'' by

Rafael Sabatini Rafael Sabatini (29 April 1875 – 13 February 1950) was an Italian-born British writer of romance and adventure novels. He is best known for his worldwide bestsellers: '' The Sea Hawk'' (1915), ''Scaramouche'' (1921), ''Captain Blood'' (a.k. ...

. It is not known whether the film currently survives, and it may be a

lost film A lost film is a feature or short film that no longer exists in any studio archive, private collection, public archive or the U.S. Library of Congress. Conditions During most of the 20th century, U.S. copyright law required at least one copy ...

. In 1927

Warner Brothers Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

planned a

Vitaphone Vitaphone was a sound film system used for feature films and nearly 1,000 short subjects made by Warner Bros. and its sister studio First National from 1926 to 1931. Vitaphone was the last major analog sound-on-disc system and the only one ...

version of ''The Tavern Knight'' with John Barrymore but it was substituted for the '' Manon Lescaut'' story which was called '' When a Man Loves''.''The Barrymores'' by Carol Stein-Hoffman c.2001; Retrieved July 11, 2016

Plot

As summarized in a film publication, The Tavern Knight ( Norwood), known for his handling of his sword, is really Roland Marleigh, lord of Marleigh Castle. Gregory Ashburn ( Croker-King) and his brother Joseph (

Humphreys Humphreys may refer to: Places * Benjamin G. Humphreys Bridge, Arkansas-Mississippi * Camp Humphreys, U.S. Camp in South Korea *Humphreys, Missouri *Humphreys County, Mississippi * Humphreys County, Tennessee * Humphreys County Airport, Tennessee * ...

) long ago had caused the death of the Knight's wife and taken his young son, now known as their ward Kenneth (Anderson). Cynthia ( Stuart), a niece, was also a member of the household, and the Knight believes that she loves Kenneth. The forces of Charles Stuart (Wickers) and Oliver Cromwell ( Conway) are about to fight with The Tavern Knight leading the Stuart forces. Kenneth, fighting for the King, was under the Knight's leadership. When Stuart's forces retreated, the Knight and Kenneth are captured but later escape. The Knight learns that Kenneth is of the house of Marleigh, now in the possession of the Ashburns. Kenneth takes the Knight to Marleigh Castle, where the Knight reveals his identity and a sword fight begins. One of the Ashburns escapes with his life when he promises to tell the Knight news of his son. Complications follow, and the Knight kills Kenneth, which leaves the Knight free to acknowledge his love for Cynthia, who also loves him.

Cast

- The Tavern Knight *

- Cynthia Ashburn *

- Joseph Ashburn *

Teddy Arundell Teddy Arundell (1873 in Devon – 5 November 1922, in London) was a British film actor of the silent era. Selected filmography * ''The Lyons Mail'' (1916) * ''Justice'' (1917) * ''Nelson'' (1918) * '' The Swindler'' (1918) * '' The Splendid Cowa ...

- Captain Hogan * Lawrence Anderson - Kenneth *

Charles Croker-King Charles Harold Croker-King (30 April 1873 – 25 October 1951) was a British stage and film actor who had a career from 1920 to 1937. Biography Charles Croker-King was born 30 April 1873 in Rock Helm, Yorkshire, England England is a c ...

- Gregory Ashburn *

Clifford Heatherley Clifford Heatherley Lamb (8 October 1888 in Preston, Lancashire – 15 September 1937 in London) was an English stage and film actor. Filmography * ''Henry VIII'' (1911) * ''Bleak House'' (1920) * '' The Tavern Knight'' (1920) * '' The Mys ...

- Colonel Pride * Booth Conway - Oliver Cromwell * J.E. Wickers - Charles Stuart

References

External links

* 1920 films British silent feature films 1920s English-language films Films directed by Maurice Elvey Films based on British novels British historical films 1920s historical films Films set in England Films set in the 17th century English Civil War films British black-and-white films 1920s British films {{1920s-UK-film-stub