Broken Laws
| Broken Laws | |
|---|---|
Film Booking Office of America | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 70 minutres |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
Broken Laws is a 1924 American
Broken Laws, with its plot of parental overindulgence, is the second of Davenport's "social conscience" releases, to be followed by
Plot
As described in a review in a film magazine,[3] Christmas Eve finds Ralph Allen (Wallace) breaking the speed laws and eluding the police. In his car are his son Bobby (Moore) and Patsy Heath (Walsh), the daughter of a neighbor. The Allens go to a jazz party at the Heaths. Bobby has declared that there is no Santa Claus and has ruined the Christmas tree, climbs out of the house and goes to the Allens to watch the party. He and Patsy are trying to imitate the adults when they are discovered. Bobby is taken back home, and exposes himself to the rain for spite and becomes ill. When he recovers, his mother spoils him and he gets into trouble at school. When eighteen, his mother buys Bobby (Rankin) a car and he begins to lead a wild life, exerting a bad influence on Patsy (Corbin). Finally, his mother and Patsy's father (Marmont) go to rescue them from a questionable roadhouse. Speeding home, Bobby speeds and runs into a wagon, killing an old woman. He is tried and convicted of manslaughter. His mother realizes that she is also guilty as she indulged him and never taught him to respect the law or authority. Suddenly, she awakes and finds that the killing was just a dream. Calling Bobby to her room, she gives him a sound spanking and sends him back to school to apologize.
Cast
- Dorothy Davenport as Joan Allen (credited as "Mrs. Wallace Reid")
- Percy Marmont as Richard Heath
- Ramsey Wallace as Ralph Allen
- Jackie Saunders as Muriel Heath (as Jacqueline Saunders)
- Arthur Rankin as Bobby Allen at 16
- Virginia Lee Corbin as Patsy Heath at age 16
- Pat Moore as Bobby Allen at age 8
- Jane Walsh as Patsy Heath at age 8 (as Jane Wray)
- Tommy Hicks as Fat kid
- Henry Neill as himself
- Dorothy Seay
Production
Davenport's husband was the star
Preservation
According to the Silent Era website, a print exists in the
See also
- The Silver Cord(1933)
References
- ^ a b Progressive Silent Film List: Broken Laws at silentera.com
- ISBN 0-313-30345-2
- ^ Sewell, Charles S. (January 31, 1925). "Broken Laws; Mrs. Wallace Reid's New Picture is Dramatic and Impressive and Should Register at Box Office". The Moving Picture World. 72 (5). New York City: Chalmers Publishing Co.: 447. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
External links
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