Men (1918 film)

Men
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Directed byPerry N. Vekroff
Written byPerry N. Vekroff (scenario)
Screenplay byHarry Sophus Sheldon
Based onMen
by Harry Sophus Sheldon
Produced byGerard F. Bacon
StarringAnna Lehr
Charlotte Walker
Robert Cain
CinematographyAlfred Moses
Production
company
Bacon-Backer Film Corp.
Distributed byFoursquare Pictures
Release date
  • May 15, 1918 (1918-05-15) (United States)
Running time
6 reels
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

Men was a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Perry N. Vekroff based upon a play by Harry Sophus Sheldon.[1] It starred Anna Lehr, Charlotte Walker, and Robert Cain. It is considered to be a lost film.[2][3][4]

Plot

As described in the Exhibitors Herald, a film magazine of the time,[5] the plot was the following. Laura Burton (Lehr) refuses the love of an honest artist to accept the flattering attentions of Roger Hamilton (Cain), a society pet. In due time, however, she finds that she has been betrayed and returns to her mother (Walker). She reads of Hamilton's engagement to Alice Fairbanks (McCoy) who, in reality, is her sister adopted by the Fairbanks in childhood. Laura and her mother arrive in time to prevent the completion of the ceremony. Hamilton is denounced, Alice is free to marry the man she loves, and the young artist returns to claim Laura.

Cast

Reception

Like many American films of the time, Men was subject to restrictions and cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors issued an Adults Only permit and cut, in Reel 6, the bridegroom shooting man.[6] The board later rescinded the Adults Only permit after an agreement to make these additional changes, which modified the plot of the film: Reel 3, insert new intertitle "We will steal quietly away and be married", replace intertitle "Soon when we are married" with "It will be necessary to keep our marriage secret until the objections of my family are overcome", Reel 4, replace intertitle "I can deceive my mother no longer — when are we to be married?" to "I can deceive my mother no longer, when is our marriage to be announced?", replace intertitle "My family still objects, I can never marry you" to "Our marriage is not legal", Reel 5, during conversation between mother and daughter insert new intertitle "My husband has deceived me with a mock marriage" or words to that effect, and cut scene of bridegroom shooting man.[7]

References

  1. ^ Goble, Alan (1999-01-01). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783110951943.
  2. ^ Progressive Silent Film List: Men at silentera.com
  3. ^ The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Men
  4. ^ The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: Men(Wayback)
  5. ^ "Reviews: Men". Exhibitors Herald. 6 (23). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 27. June 1, 1918.
  6. ^ "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. 6 (25). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 31. June 15, 1918.
  7. ^ "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. 7 (7): 60. August 10, 1918.