''Mary's Ankle'' is a 1920 American silent

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Lloyd Ingraham Lloyd Chauncey Ingraham (November 30, 1874 – April 4, 1956) was an American film actor and director. Biography Born in Rochelle, Illinois, Ingraham appeared in more than 280 films between 1912 and 1950, as well as directing more than 100 f ...

and written by Luther Reed based upon the play of the same name by May Tully. The film stars Douglas MacLean, Doris May,

Victor Potel Victor Potel (October 12, 1889 – March 8, 1947) was an American film character actor who began in the silent era and appeared in more than 430 films in his 38-year career. Career Victor Potel was born in Lafayette, Indiana in 1889, and his ...

Neal Burns Neal Burns (June 26, 1892 – October 3, 1969) was an American film actor, screenwriter, and film director, director. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1915 and 1946. Burns was born in Bristol, Pennsylvania and attended public sch ...

, James Gordon, and Lizette Thorne. The film was released on February 29, 1920, by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

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 ...

, Dr. Arthur P. Hampton (MacLean), a struggling young physician, announces his marriage to a fictitious "Mary Jane Smith" in an effort to get his wealthy uncle George P. Hampton (Gordon) to give him and his two friends, a lawyer and a broker, sufficient funds to get them out of financial difficulties. He then finds himself in a difficult position when an injured young woman is brought to his office for treatment proves to be Mary Jane Smith (May) and his uncle appears to meet the bride. Mary consents to a temporary deception. Matters become complicated when the uncle insists on their accompanying him on a trip to Hawaii and informs them that he is to marry a Miss Burns (Thorne), who is Mary's aunt. The troubles of Arthur and Mary become acute on the ship. Finally, an explanation results in forgiveness, and they make the trip a honeymoon by having the ship's captain marry them.

Cast

* Douglas MacLean as Dr. Arthur P. Hampton * Doris May as Mary Jane Smith *

as Johnny Stokes *

as Stub Masters * James Gordon as George P. Hampton * Lizette Thorne as Angelica Burns * Ida Lewis as Mrs. Merrivale (*Ida Lewis 1855–1935; not Julia Arthur)

Preservation status

A copy of the film is in the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is a research library in Washington, D.C., serving as the library and research service for the United States Congress and the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It also administers Copyright law o ...

.''Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress'', (<-book title) p.113 c.1978 the American Film Institute

References

External links

*
Film still
at silenthollywood.com 1920 films 1920s English-language films Silent American comedy films 1920 comedy films Paramount Pictures films Films directed by Lloyd Ingraham American black-and-white films American silent feature films 1920s American films English-language comedy films {{1920s-silent-comedy-film-stub