Freckles (1935 film)
Freckles | |
---|---|
Robert de Grasse | |
Edited by | Desmond Marquette |
Music by | Alberto Colombo |
Production company | |
Release date |
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Running time | 69 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Freckles is a 1935 American
Plot
Freckles, a young man and orphan, shows up at a
Laurie-Lou also meets Jack Carter, a felon, who is hiding out in a cabin in the woods with several friends of his, who happen to be bank robbers. Carter gets on Laurie-Lou good side by carving wooden soldiers for her. Wanting him to make a figure she is missing from her set, she hides in his car to follow him to his home, hoping to convince him to make it for her. However, once there, she is held captive by Carter's felon friends.
When she doesn't return, Freckles tracks her to Carter's cabin, where he too is captured. However, he surprises his captors by escaping, although he is wounded by a gunshot during his exit. He does not abandon Laurie-Lou, instead returning to the room where she is being held, and barring the door. As the felons attempt to break in, she shows him where a gun and ammo are kept. Unfamiliar with the weapon, he fumbles to load it as the bank robbers get close to gaining entry. Just in time, he loads the weapon, surprising the criminals and holding them at bay. He is becoming weak from loss of blood when Arden arrives with the police, having learned of their location from Laurie-Lee's mother. The criminals are captured, and Freckles and Arden agree to marry.
Cast
- Tom Brown as Freckles
- Virginia Weidler as Laurie-Lou Duncan
- Carol Stoneas Mary Arden
- Lumsden Hare as McLean
- James Bush as Ralph Barton
- Dorothy Peterson as Mrs. Duncan
- Addison Richards as Jack Carter
- Richard Alexander as Wessner
- George Lloyd as Al Waters
- Louis Natheaux as Lefty
- Wade Boteler as Butch
Production
RKO announced in July 1934 that Freckles would be one of eight classic works on their production schedule for 1934–35,[2] production was set for later that year in December.[3] At the time, the novel was one of the best-selling books of all time.[4] In February 1935, it was reported that Jess Smith had been assigned to adapt Gene Stratton-Porter's book into a screenplay.[5] It was one of two of Stratton-Porter's works scheduled for production by RKO that season, the other being Laddie.[6] In the middle of February, Anne Shirley was announced as being attached to the picture.[7] In April 1935, John Robertson had been attached to the project as the director, while Pandro S. Berman was announced as the producer.[8][9] Virginia Weidler was added to the cast in May 1935.[10] In early July it was revealed that Carol Stone would be part of the cast, and that production would begin on July 8.[11] In mid-July Robertson was replaced by a directing team consisting of Edward Killy and William Hamilton. The two had worked on several films together, with Killy as the assistant director and Hamilton as the editor.[12] The following week it was announced that Tom Brown would star opposite Stone,[13] followed the next day by the addition of Addison Richards to the acting crew.[14] At about the same time, it was announced in the trade papers that the film was scheduled for release on August 23.[15] The cast was further filled out the following week with the addition Lumsden Hare, James Bush, and Richard Alexander.[16] By the end of July the film was in production on location outside of Sonora, California,[17] and Dorothy Peterson was added to the cast.[18] At the beginning of August, Louis Natheaux and Wade Boteler had been added to the cast as two of the bank robbers.[19] In the first week in August, the release date was pushed back to September 27.[20] The film had completed shooting by August 10,[21] and had begun the editing process.[22] Although the film was reported as completed by the middle of August, well in time for its scheduled September opening,[23] on September 28 the premier date was pushed further back to October 4.[24] The Chicago Legion of Decency graded the film class A, declaring it suitable for all audiences.[25]
Reception
Legacy
Freckles was shown on March 26, 2010, at the 30th Cinefest convention in Syracuse, New York, a small local film festival celebrating early 20th-century classic films.[32] To this day, Freckles survives and is fortunately not lost to time; however, the film only survives in a private collection with its owner unknown and with its copyright renewed. Because of this, Freckles is not available for the public to view online nor on DVD or Blu-Ray and can only be seen at a few archival screenings like the 2010 Cinefest convention in Syracuse, New York. Freckles is one of many films like Keeper of the Bees (1947) that have unknown rights-holders and are thus unavailable for public viewing.[33]
References
- ^ "Freckles: Detail View". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 2, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
- ^ "25 Classic Works Set for 1934–35". The Film Daily. July 23, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ "RKO Studio Starting 9 Films in December". The Film Daily. November 21, 1934. p. 13. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ "Best Selling Books of All Time". Motion Picture Herald. July 7, 1934. p. 9. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ Wilk, Ralph (February 2, 1935). "A Little from "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 7. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ "Modern Novels, Plays High in Radio List". Motion Picture Daily. June 20, 1934. p. 10. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ Wilk, Ralph (February 13, 1935). "A Little from "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 12. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ Wilk, Ralph (April 23, 1935). "A Little from "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 6. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ "Contract Rush on In Talent Lineup". Motion Picture Daily. April 25, 1935. p. 4. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ Wilk, Ralph (May 24, 1935). "A "Little" from Hollywood "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 5. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ "RKO Rushing 10 Films in Work This Month". The Film Daily. July 6, 1935. p. 1. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ Wilk, Ralph (July 12, 1935). "A Little from "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 8. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ "RKO Studio Starting Six in Next 10 Days". The Film Daily. July 17, 1935. p. 4. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ Wilk, Ralph (July 18, 1935). "A Little from "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 8. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ "The Release Chart: RKO Radio Pictures". Motion Picture Herald. July 13, 1935. p. 99. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ Wilk, Ralph (July 24, 1935). "A Little from Hollywood "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 7. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ Wilk, Ralph (July 29, 1935). "A Little from Hollywood "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 8. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ Wilk, Ralph (July 31, 1935). "A Little from Hollywood "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 8. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ Wilk, Ralph (August 8, 1935). "A Little from Hollywood "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 10. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ "The Release Chart: RKO Radio Pictures". Motion Picture Herald. September 3, 1935. p. 91. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ Wilk, Ralph (August 10, 1935). "A Little from Hollywood "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 4. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ "The Cutting Room: Freckles". Motion Picture Herald. August 10, 1935. p. 69. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ Shapiro, Victor M. (August 17, 1935). "The Hollywood Scene". Motion Picture Herald. p. 43. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ "The Release Chart: RKO Radio Pictures". Motion Picture Herald. September 28, 1935. p. 365. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ "Classification of Pictures". Harrison's Reports. October 5, 1935. p. 160. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ ""Freckles" with Tom Brown, Virginia Weidler and Carol Stone". Harrison's Reports. September 28, 1935. p. 155. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ "Reviews of the New Films: "Freckles"". The Film Daily. September 20, 1935. p. 9. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ "Motion Picture Daily's Hollywood Preview: "Freckles"". Motion Picture Daily. September 11, 1935. p. 16. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ "Showmen's Review: Freckles". Motion Picture Herald. October 5, 1935. p. 45. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ "At the RKO Albee". The New York Times. October 26, 1935. p. 0. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
- ^ "Gene Stratton Porter's 'Freckles'". Northern Star (Lismore). December 7, 1935. p. 4. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
- ^ "Syracuse Cinephile Society opens 30th Cinefest". Syracuse.com. March 23, 2019. p. 0. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
- ^ Grayson, Eric (October 27, 2010). "Lost talkies list". NitrateVille. Retrieved September 26, 2019.