The Idol Dancer
| The Idol Dancer | |
|---|---|
James Smith | |
| Distributed by | First National Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 104 minutes 92 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
| Budget | $93,000[1] |
| Box office | $963,000[1] |
The Idol Dancer is a 1920 American silent
The film is based on the story "Blood of the Covenants" by
Plot
Mary (Seymour) is the daughter of a French man and a Javanese mother and enjoys dancing. She has two lovers. One is a beachcomber named Barthelmess, who was tossed off a passing ship for failing to work and only seeks to drink gin. The other, named Hale, is a sickly young American who came to the island in hopes of regaining his health and is staying with his missionary uncle, named MacQuarrie, and his wife, named Bruce.
While on the island, natives from a neighboring island attack. The beachcomber reforms, and Mary comes to love him.[5]
Cast
- Richard Barthelmess as Dan McGuire, a beachcomber
- Clarine Seymour as Mary
- Creighton Hale as Walter Kincaid
- George MacQuarrie as Reverend Franklyn Blythe
- Kate Bruce as Mrs. Blythe
- Porter Strong as Reverend Peter
- Anders Randolf as The Blackbirder
- Walter James as Chief Wando
- Thomas Carr as Donald Blythe
- Herbert Sutch as Old Thomas
- Adolph Lestina as Black Slave
- Ben Grauer as Native Boy
- Walter Kolomoku as Native Musician
- Florence Short as Pansy
Production
Griffith filmed exteriors for The Idol Dancer simultaneously with The Love Flower, including filming in Nassau, Bahamas in December 1919 and in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1920.[6][7]
Status
A 35mm print of the film is preserved by the Cohen Media Group. 16mm prints of the film are held in private collections.[2]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Griffith's 20 Year Record". Variety. September 5, 1928. p. 12. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
- ^ a b Progressive Silent Film List: The Idol Dancer at silentera.com
- ISBN 0-786-41059-0.
- ISBN 978-1-617-03298-1.
- ^ "The Idol Dancer: Feature Entertains, but Will Not Impress". Motion Picture News. 21 (15). New York City: Motion Picture News, Inc.: 3169 April 3, 1920. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
- ISBN 978-1-476-61764-0.
- ^ (Slide 2012, p. XX)
External links
- The Idol Dancer at IMDb
- Synopsis at AllMovie
- Stills at moviessilently.com
- Southseascinema.org
