''A Midnight Bell'' is a 1921 American silent

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending ( black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the o ...

. The film was directed and produced by its star, Charles Ray. His brother, Albert, is thought to have co-directed some scenes. The film is believed to be lost.Soister, John T. ''American Silent Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Feature Films, 1913-1929''. McFarland. p. 389. Web. Accessed June 24, 2015 The film is based on a play by the same name written by Charles Hale Hoyt that premiered on Broadway in 1889 with

Maude Adams Maude Ewing Adams Kiskadden (November 11, 1872 – July 17, 1953), known professionally as Maude Adams, was an American actress who achieved her greatest success as the character Peter Pan, first playing the role in the 1905 Broadway production ...

in a leading role and starred Eugene Canfield as Martin Tripp. Director Charles Ray went on to lose his entire fortune in 1923 when he produced ''The Courtship of Miles Standish'', which was a terrible flop at the box office. He later died in 1943 from a severe tooth infection.

Plot summary

Martin Tripp (Charles Ray) is a traveling salesman who turns a struggling small-town store into a successful business. He becomes involved in a mystery involving an old church that is supposed to be haunted. Tripp is challenged to spend a night in the old building. A group of criminals, pretending to manifest supernatural phenomena, are exposed by Tripp in the end.''A Midnight Bell''
at TCM.com

Cast

* Charles Ray as Martin Tripp * Donald MacDonald as Stephen Labaree * Van Dyke Brooke as Abner Grey * Doris Pawn as Annie Grey * Clyde McCoy as Mac *Jess Herring as Spike *S.J. Bingham as 'Bull' Barton *Bert Offord as 'Slick' Sweeney *

Monte Collins Monte Collins (also credited as Monty Collins; December 3, 1898 – June 1, 1951) was an American film actor and screenwriter. He appeared in more than 160 films between 1920 and 1948. He also wrote for 32 films between 1930 and 1951. Career ...

(bit part, uncredited)

References

External links

* * * 1921 films 1921 comedy films American black-and-white films Silent American comedy films American silent feature films Lost American comedy films First National Pictures films 1921 lost films English-language comedy films Films directed by Charles Ray 1920s American films 1920s English-language films {{1920s-silent-comedy-film-stub