The Man Who Lost Himself (1920 film)
The Man Who Lost Himself | |
---|---|
![]() Hedda Hopper and William Faversham | |
Directed by | Clarence G. Badger George D. Baker |
Written by | George D. Baker |
Based on | The Man Who Lost Himself by Henry De Vere Stacpoole |
Produced by | William Faversham Lewis J. Selznick |
Starring | William Faversham Hedda Hopper |
Cinematography | Lucien N. Andriot |
Distributed by | Selznick Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 50 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
The Man Who Lost Himself is a lost[1] 1920 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Clarence G. Badger and George D. Baker. It was produced by its star, stage actor William Faversham, and Lewis J. Selznick. The film is based on the 1918 novel of the same title by Henry De Vere Stacpoole.[2][3] Faversham plays dual roles of an English nobleman and an American who looks just like him.
The novel was later adapted again for a 1941 remake of the same title starring Brian Aherne and Kay Francis.
Plot
[edit]As described in a film magazine,[4] American Victor Jones (Faversham) finds himself penniless and stranded in London. He meets the Earl of Rochester (Faversham), and the similarity between the two is so noticeable that even friends mistake Jones for the Earl. The Earl is estranged from his wife (Hopper) and family, owes great sums of money, and is considered in a bad light by acquaintances. He gets Jones drunk and sends him to the Rochester mansion, and then commits suicide. Until Jones receives a note written by the Earl prior to his death, he does not perceive his position. After reading the note, Jones immediately begins to pose as the Earl, but later reveals this scheme. However, he has fallen in love with the Earl's widow and they decide to reside in the United States.
Cast
[edit]- William Faversham as Victor Jones / Earl of Rochester
- Hedda Hopper as Countess of Rochester
- Violet Reed as Lady Plinlimon
- Radcliffe Steele as Sir Patrick Spence
- Claude Payton as Prince Maniloff
- Mathilde Brundage as Rochester's Mother
- Emily Fitzroy as Rochester's Aunt
- Downing Clark as Rochester's Uncle
Reception
[edit]According to The New York Times reviewer, provided the viewer could accept that an American, with no prior knowledge of the Englishman's life, could pass for him, "Any one disposed to make the necessary assumptions may, and undoubtedly will, enjoy the photoplay, for the two leading rôles are played by William Faversham with unfailing pantomimic ability and sureness of characterization."[5]
References
[edit]- ^ The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Films Survival Catalog: The Man Who Lost Himself
- ^ Progressive Silent Film List: The Man Who Lost Himself at silentera.com
- ^ The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: The Man Who Lost Himself
- ^ "Reviews: The Man Who Lost Himself". Exhibitors Herald. 10 (26). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 85–86. June 26, 1920.
- ^ "The Screen". The New York Times. May 31, 1920.
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- 1920 films
- American silent feature films
- Films based on works by Henry De Vere Stacpoole
- Films directed by Clarence G. Badger
- Films directed by George D. Baker
- Films based on British novels
- Films based on Irish novels
- 1920 comedy-drama films
- 1920s English-language films
- American black-and-white films
- Lost American comedy-drama films
- Selznick Pictures films
- 1920 lost films
- Films set in London
- English-language comedy-drama films
- 1920s American films
- Silent American comedy-drama films
- Silent comedy-drama film stubs