''Naughty but Nice'' is a 1927 American silent

romantic comedy film Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a sub-genre of comedy and romance fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount all obstacles. Romantic comedy e ...

directed by

Millard Webb Millard Webb (December 6, 1893 – April 21, 1935) was an American screenwriter and director who directed 20 films between 1920 and 1933. His best-known film is the 1926 silent John Barrymore adventure '' The Sea Beast'', a version of ''Moby Dic ...

Colleen Moore Colleen Moore (born Kathleen Morrison; August 19, 1899 – January 25, 1988) was an American film actress who began her career during the silent film era. Moore became one of the most fashionable (and highly-paid) stars of the era and helped po ...

plays Bernice Sumners, a hayseed sent to a ritzy boarding school for finishing after her family strikes it rich in oil.

Plot

Bernice Sumners is sent to a finishing school by her Texas uncle after oil is discovered on his property. At the school she blossoms into a young woman. Bernice is a compulsive liar. One evening she and a friend go to a hotel before a theater date, planning to meet popular Paul Carroll, but they run into the school principal in the hotel lobby. Bernice tells a lie about why they are there, and from there one lie builds upon the other until Bernice ends up in the hotel room of Ralph Ames of the Secret Service, who is in the process of changing (thus, the poster graphic of a man's bare legs in garters). Bernice calls Ralph her husband, and he plays along until the house of cards comes crumbling down around her. She ends up falling for the popular Paul Carroll, and the two marry.

Cast

as Berenice Summers * Donald Reed as Paul Carroll *

Claude Gillingwater Claude Benton Gillingwater (August 2, 1870 – November 1, 1939) was an American stage and screen actor. He first appeared on the stage then in more than 90 films between 1918 and 1939, including the Academy Award-nominated ''A Tale of Two ...

as Judge John R. Altwold *

Kathryn McGuire Kathryn McGuire (December 6, 1903 – October 10, 1978) was an American dancer and actress. Early life Born in Peoria, Illinois, McGuire was said to be recognized by critics and fans alike as one of the rising stars in film. Selected one of ...

as Alice Altwold *

Hallam Cooley Hallam Burr (February 8, 1895 – March 20, 1971), known by his stage name Hallam Cooley, was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1913 and 1936. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and died in Tib ...

as Ralph Ames *

Edythe Chapman Edythe Chapman (October 8, 1863 – October 15, 1948) was an American stage and silent film actress. Career Born in Rochester, New York, Chapman began her stage career as early as 1898 when she appeared in New York City in ''The Charity Ball''. ...

as Mrs. Altwold *

Clarissa Selwynne Clarissa Selwynne (26 February 1886 – 13 June 1948) was a British stage and film actress.Kear & King p. 143 She settled in the United States, working in Hollywood where she appeared in around 100 films. Partial filmography *'' Hearts in Exil ...

as Miss Perkins *

Burr McIntosh William Burr McIntosh (August 21, 1862 – April 28, 1942) was an American lecturer, photographer, film studio owner, silent film actor, author, publisher of ''The'' ''Burr McIntosh Monthly'',Loretta Young Loretta Young (born Gretchen Michaela Young; January 6, 1913 – August 12, 2000) was an American actress. Starting as a child, she had a long and varied career in film from 1917 to 1989. She received numerous honors including an Academy Awards ...

appeared in ''Naughty but Nice'' unbilled. She was known as Gretchen Young at that time.

Preservation

A print of ''Naughty but Nice'' is located at the

Filmoteca de Catalunya The Filmoteca de Catalunya is a film archive located in Catalunya, Spain, aiming at the preservation of film and the dissemination of audiovisual and film culture. The head office and public rooms (cinemas, exhibition rooms, library) are located ...

.Library of Congress / FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: ''Naughty but Nice''
/ref>

References

Notes Bibliography *Codori, Jeff (2012), ''Colleen Moore; A Biography of the Silent Film Star'', McFarland. (print), (e-book)

External links

* * * 1927 films 1927 comedy films American black-and-white films Silent American comedy films American silent feature films Films directed by Millard Webb Films set in boarding schools First National Pictures films 1920s American films 1920s English-language films English-language comedy films {{1920s-silent-comedy-film-stub