''Slippy McGee'' is a 1923 American silent

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

Wesley Ruggles Wesley Ruggles (June 11, 1889 – January 8, 1972) was an American film director. Life and work He was born in Los Angeles, California, younger brother of actor Charlie Ruggles. He began his career in 1915 as an actor, appearing in a doz ...

and based on the book ''Slippy McGee: Sometimes Known as the Butterfly Man'' by Marie Conway Oemler that was published in 1917. The film was an

Oliver Morosco Oliver Morosco (June 20, 1875 – August 25, 1945) was an American theatrical producer, director, writer, film producer, and theater owner. He owned the Morosco Photoplay Company. He brought many of his theater actors to the screen. Frank A. Garbut ...

Production released by Associated First National and featured actress

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 ...

as Mary Virginia. It is not known whether the film survives.

Plot

The title is also the moniker of a renowned safe-cracker, Slippy McGee, who has always managed to evade capture until his latest job, when he is wounded. He escapes aboard a freight train, bound for parts unknown, and finds himself in the town of Appleborro. There, he is discovered and cared for by Father De Rance and Mary Virginia. His leg is amputated, and during his recovery in Appleborro, the town's influence causes him to reform. He becomes interested in the local butterflies, De Rance's hobby, and becomes so knowledgeable in them that he becomes a published expert. Slippy has fallen in love with Mary Virginia, but she plans to marry Lawrence Mayne. However, George Inglesby determines that he wants Mary Virginia for himself, and decides to blackmail Mary Virginia into marrying him using incriminating letters he has in his possession. Wishing Mary to be happy, Slippy resorts to his old ways, breaking into the safe where the letters are kept and thus freeing Mary Virginia of the power George has over her.

Cast

as Mary Virginia *

Wheeler Oakman Wheeler Oakman (born Vivian Eichelberger; February 21, 1890 – March 19, 1949) was an American film actor. Early years Oakman was born as Vivian Eichelberger in Washington, D.C., and educated in that city's schools—specifically Henry School ...

as Slippy McGee *

Sam De Grasse Samuel Alfred De Grasse (June 12, 1875 – November 29, 1953) was a Canadian actor. He was the uncle of cinematographer Robert De Grasse. Biography Samuel Alfred De Grasse was born in Bathurst, New Brunswick to Lange De Grasse and Helene ( Com ...

as Father De Rance *Edmund Stevens as George Inglesby *

Edith Yorke Edith Yorke (born Edith Murgatroyd; 23 December 1867 – 28 July 1934) was an English actress. She appeared in more than 60 films from 1919 to 1933. Biography Yorke was born in Derby; her family later moved to Croydon. Edith returned to D ...

as Madame De Rance * Lloyd Whitlock as Howard Hunter * Pat O'Malley as Lawrence Mayne *Mary Connor *William Foster as Judge Mayne *Katherine Healy *Frances Smith *Bardell Wheeler

Production

Production on the film began in June 1921 with Colleen's return from New York and Florida, where she was making '' The Lotus Eater'' with

John Barrymore John Barrymore (born John Sidney Blyth; February 14 or 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942) was an American actor on stage, screen, and radio. A member of the Drew and Barrymore theatrical families, he initially tried to avoid the stage, and briefly a ...

which was directed by Marshall Neilan. Upon her return to Los Angeles, she left again after a few weeks for location work at

Natchez, Mississippi Natchez ( ) is the only city in and the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 14,520 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located on the Mississippi River across from Vidalia, Louisiana, Natchez was ...

, which filled in for the fictional town of Appleborro. Colleen was taken with the town, and spoke well of the hospitality she and the ''Slippy McGee'' troupe were treated to. It was not the first film production the town had hosted.''A Lifetime on Deadline,'' by George W. Healy, Jr., Pelican Publishing Co., 1976. The film would not be released until two year later, in 1923.

Footnotes

* ''Natchez Democrat'', July 12, 1921, page 4. * "Natchez Is on the Map," by Grace Kingsley, ''Los Angeles Times'', August 14, 1921, page III1 and page III16.

Bibliography

* ''Silent Star'', by

. * Jeff Codori (2012), ''Colleen Moore; A Biography of the Silent Film Star''
McFarland Publishing
(Print , EBook ).
Colleen Moore research/history project page

External links

AFI Silent Catalog listing for ''Slippy McGee''
*{{IMDb title, id=0014485 American silent feature films 1923 films Films shot in Mississippi Films directed by Wesley Ruggles Films based on American novels American black-and-white films Silent American drama films 1923 drama films 1920s American films 1920s English-language films