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''Charity Castle'' is a 1917 American silent
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As described and illustrated in various film magazines, when the mother of Charity (Minter) and her little brother, whom she calls "The Prince," passes away, they are left in the care of her tenant, Merlin Durand (Forrest). He is the son of a millionaire, but his miserly father, who disapproves of his extravagant lifestyle, has banished him from home until he can produce his first week's pay-check.
When Merlin's bills pile up, Charity takes pity on him, and decides that she and her brother will talk his father into taking him back. They go to the father's house and find it deserted; Simon Durand has gone to "take the waters" and the servants have seized the opportunity to take the night off. Charity and the Prince promptly move into the house and call it their castle, as they wait for the father's return.
That night, Bill the burglar (Turner) breaks into the house, but Charity charms him into becoming their protector. To complete this unconventional household, Sam the bum (Russell) and Lucius (Aitken), a stranded actor, soon join them. When Simon Durand returns, he is at first furious to find these strangers in his home; Charity, however, soon wins him over, and he decides to keep on Bill, Sam and Lucius in place of his absent servants.
Merlin, meanwhile, has managed to secure a job. With his first pay-check in hand, he goes to see his father, where he is overjoyed to find his wards safe and sound. Father and son are reconciled, and all live happily in the newly-renamed "Charity Castle."
comedy-drama film
Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, illness, betrayal, grief, etc. ...
directed by Lloyd Ingraham
Lloyd Chauncey Ingraham (November 30, 1874 – April 4, 1956) was an American film actor and director.
Biography
Born in Rochelle, Illinois, Ingraham appeared in more than 280 films between 1912 and 1950, as well as directing more than 100 f ...
and starring Mary Miles Minter
Mary Miles Minter (born Juliet Reilly; April 25, 1902Louisiana Birth Certificate, Caddo Parish, No. 119, Book A, Page 97, Birth Date: April 25, 1902, Name: Mary M. Reilly ic – Original Caddo birth record was recorded as "J.H. Riley's Child" ...
. As is the case with many of Minter's features, it is thought to be a lost film
A lost film is a feature film, feature or short film in which the original negative or copies are not known to exist in any studio archive, private collection, or public archive. Films can be wholly or partially lost for a number of reasons. ...
.The Library of Congress/FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: ''Charity Castle''/ref>
Plot
As described and illustrated in various film magazines, when the mother of Charity (Minter) and her little brother, whom she calls "The Prince," passes away, they are left in the care of her tenant, Merlin Durand (Forrest). He is the son of a millionaire, but his miserly father, who disapproves of his extravagant lifestyle, has banished him from home until he can produce his first week's pay-check.
When Merlin's bills pile up, Charity takes pity on him, and decides that she and her brother will talk his father into taking him back. They go to the father's house and find it deserted; Simon Durand has gone to "take the waters" and the servants have seized the opportunity to take the night off. Charity and the Prince promptly move into the house and call it their castle, as they wait for the father's return.
That night, Bill the burglar (Turner) breaks into the house, but Charity charms him into becoming their protector. To complete this unconventional household, Sam the bum (Russell) and Lucius (Aitken), a stranded actor, soon join them. When Simon Durand returns, he is at first furious to find these strangers in his home; Charity, however, soon wins him over, and he decides to keep on Bill, Sam and Lucius in place of his absent servants.
Merlin, meanwhile, has managed to secure a job. With his first pay-check in hand, he goes to see his father, where he is overjoyed to find his wards safe and sound. Father and son are reconciled, and all live happily in the newly-renamed "Charity Castle."
Cast
*Mary Miles Minter
Mary Miles Minter (born Juliet Reilly; April 25, 1902Louisiana Birth Certificate, Caddo Parish, No. 119, Book A, Page 97, Birth Date: April 25, 1902, Name: Mary M. Reilly ic – Original Caddo birth record was recorded as "J.H. Riley's Child" ...
as Charity
* Clifford Callis as The Prince
* Allan Forrest
Allan Forrest Fisher (September 1, 1885 – July 25, 1941) was an American silent film actor.
Life and career
Allan Forrest Fisher starred in 119 films, mostly silent, between 1913 and 1932. He appeared in films such as '' The Torch Bearer'', ...
as Merlin Durand
* Eugenie Forde
Eugenie Forde (June 22, 1879 – September 5, 1940) was an American silent film actress.
She starred in 73 films between 1912 and 1927 in films such as ''The Diamond from the Sky'' (1915) and ''Wives and Other Wives'' with actors such a ...
as Zelma Verona
* Henry A. Barrows as Simon Durand
* Ashton Dearholt
Ashton Dearholt (April 4, 1894 – April 27, 1942) was an American actor of the silent film era. He appeared in 75 films between 1915 and 1938. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and died in Los Angeles, California. He was sometimes billed ...
as Elmer Trent
* Robert Klein as Graves
* Spottiswoode Aitken
Frank Spottiswoode Aitken (16 April 1868 – 26 February 1933) was a Scottish-American actor of the silent era. He played Dr. Cameron in D. W. Griffith's epic drama ''The Birth of a Nation''.
Early years
Aitken was born 16 April 1868 in Edinb ...
as Lucius Garrett
* George Ahearn as Bill Turner
* J. Gordon Russell as Sam Smith
References
External links
* 1917 films 1917 comedy-drama films 1917 lost films 1910s American films 1910s English-language films American black-and-white films American Film Company films American silent feature films English-language comedy-drama films Films directed by Lloyd Ingraham Lost American comedy-drama films Lost silent American films Mutual Film films Silent American comedy-drama films {{silent-comedy-drama-film-stub