The Fighting Demon

The Fighting Demon
Lobby card
Directed by	Arthur Rosson
Screenplay by	James Bell Smith (continuity)
Story by	Charles Metz
Produced by	A. Carlos
Starring	Richard Talmadge Lorraine Eason Dick Sutherland
Cinematography	William Marshall Jack Stevens
Edited by	Doane Harrison
Production companies	Richard Talmadge Productions Truart Film Corporation
Distributed by	Film Booking Offices of America
Release date	May 24, 1925 (1925-05-24) (US)[1]
Running time	6 reels
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

The Fighting Demon is a 1925 American silent melodrama film. Directed by Arthur Rosson, the film stars Richard Talmadge, Lorraine Eason, and Dick Sutherland.[2] It was released on May 24, 1925.

Plot

As described in a film magazine review,[3] John Drake, athlete and bank vault designer, travels to South America to accept a position. He meets Dynamite Díaz and his bride and helps the prize fighter train. The bride flirts, causing Díaz to become enraged and to administer a beating to Drake. Arriving in South America, Drake discovers that the position was a hoax used by a criminal gang to get Drake to reveal a method of entering a bank vault that he had designed. He refuses and the crooks steal all is valuables in an effort to obtain his aid. To get funds to live, he is persuaded to fight the champion. Dolores is told by the leader of the crooks that Drake is not to be trusted. At the fight, Drake is punished for two rounds when he remembers a punch used by the fighter Díaz had told him was always disastrous to him. Drake uses it and the fight is over. The leader of the gang tells Drake and Dolores that her father, the president of the bank, is locked in his own vault. Drake goes to open it, and is hit on the head by the crooks. The gang is captured when an apparatus Drake designed sounds an alarm. Drake and Dolores are happy and he becomes a teller at the bank.

Cast list

• Richard Talmadge as John Drake
• Lorraine Eason as Dolores Darcy
• Dick Sutherland as Dynamite Díaz
• Peggy Shaw as Mrs. Dynamite Díaz
• Herbert Prior as Jackson Pierce
• Charles Hill Mailes as Señor Darcy
• Stanton Heck as Isaac Belding
• Jack Hill as Professor
• Dave Morris as Kid Price
• André Cheron as Slippery Logan

Reception

The Calgary Albertan gave the film a positive review, "Fine comedy, fast moving melodrama, and a series of stunts and chases that even out-Talmadge Talmadge, make "The Fighting Demon" thoroughly delightful entertainment."[4] Exhibitor's Trade Review gave the film an overall positive review, although they felt the plot was a bit thin, albeit with good bits of romance and melodrama. They applauded the action and stunts, as well as the performances by Talmadge and his supporting cast.[5]

References

1. "The Fighting Demon". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on January 2, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
2. Progressive Silent Film List: The Fighting Demon at silentera.com
3. "New Pictures: The Fighting Demon", Exhibitors Herald, 21 (11): 63–64, June 6, 1925, retrieved March 29, 2022 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
4. "'Fighting Demon', at the Regent, is Exciting Drama". The Calgary Albertan. September 26, 1925. p. 11. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "The Fighting Demon". Exhibitor's Trade Review. June 20, 1925. p. 70. Retrieved July 3, 2023.

External links

• The Fighting Demon at IMDb