''The Man from Brodney's'' is a 1923 American silent

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by David Smith and starring J. Warren Kerrigan,

Alice Calhoun Alice Beatrice Calhoun (November 21, 1900 – June 3, 1966) was an American silent film actress. Film star Born in Cleveland, Ohio, she made her film debut in an uncredited role in 1918 and went on to appear in another forty-seven films betw ...

, and

Wanda Hawley Wanda Hawley (born Selma Wanda Pittack; July 30, 1895 – March 18, 1963) was an American actress during the silent film era. She entered the theatrical profession with an amateur group in Seattle, and later toured the United States and Cana ...

. It was produced and released by the

Vitagraph Company of America Vitagraph Studios, also known as the Vitagraph Company of America, was a United States motion picture studio. It was founded by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith in 1897 in Brooklyn, New York, as the American Vitagraph Company. By 1907 ...

Plot

As described in a film magazine, the law firm of Brodney and Company sends Hollingsworth Chase, an American, to the Island of Japat in the

South Seas Today the term South Seas, or South Sea, most commonly refers to the portion of the Pacific Ocean south of the equator. The term South Sea may also be used synonymously for Oceania, or even more narrowly for Polynesia or the Polynesian Triangle ...

to represent the natives in a strange lawsuit. The Island of Japat, which has jewel mines of great value, is to go the grandchildren of its owners, provided that they marry within six months of the filing of the will. If the grandchildren fail to comply with the terms of the will, the Island will revert to the natives that live there. The natives, under the leadership of Rasula, make desperate attempts to bring about the deaths of the heirs. Chase joins forces against them. The infuriated natives make a mass attack on the mine operators and heirs, resulting in a terrific struggle. Just when it becomes impossible for the small group of men to hold out any longer, a United States destroyer comes to their aid. Rasula is killed, and the natives agree to a compromise under which the heirs agree to pay the government a fair royalty for the output of the mines. Princess Genevra, a European princess who had been visiting the Island of Japat for a rest, confesses to Chase that her love for him is greater than her love for any power, and that she intends to sacrifice her throne for him.

Cast

Production

While the film was primarily shot at the Vitagraph Studio, two

Destroyers In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, maneuverable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy, or carrier battle group and defend them against a wide range of general threats. They were conceived i ...

were rented out to the film production for use in the picture, with several scenes being taken onboard the ships in addition to their exteriors. Production was delayed by a storm.

Reception

''The Man from Brodney'' was received positively upon release. In a review written by Michael L. Simmons for Exhibitor's Trade Review, he described the production as a "spectacular adventure" and "clean, wholesome entertainment." Mary Kelly of

Moving Picture World The ''Moving Picture World'' was an influential early trade journal for the American film industry, from 1907 to 1927. An industry powerhouse at its height, ''Moving Picture World'' frequently reiterated its independence from the film studios. ...

was very positive about the production and called it "deeply impressive."

Preservation

The film survives incomplete or abridged by a collector.

References

External links

* American silent feature films Films directed by David Smith (director) Vitagraph Studios films American black-and-white films Silent American drama films 1923 drama films 1920s American films 1920s English-language films English-language drama films Films based on novels by George Barr McCutcheon {{1920s-US-film-stub