''Through the Back Door'' is a 1921 American silent

comedy drama film Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau In linguistics, a blend—also known as a blend word, lexical blend, or portmanteau—is a word formed by combining the meanings, and parts of the sounds, of two or more words together.

directed by

Alfred E. Green Alfred Edward Green (July 11, 1889 – September 4, 1960) was an American film director. Green entered film in 1912 as an actor for the Selig Polyscope Company. He became an assistant to director Colin Campbell. Biography Green was born on Jul ...

and

Jack Pickford Jack Pickford (born John Charles Smith, August 18, 1896 – January 3, 1933), was a Canadian-American actor, film director and producer. He was the younger brother of actresses Mary and Lottie Pickford. After their father deserted the famil ...

, and starring

Mary Pickford Gladys Louise Smith (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979), known professionally as Mary Pickford, was a Canadian-American film actress and producer. A Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood, pioneer in the American film industry with a Hollywood care ...

.Progressive Silent Film List: ''Through the Back Door''
at silentera.com

Plot

The movie starts in

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

in the early 1900s. Jeanne (

) is the 10-year-old daughter of Louise (

Gertrude Astor Gertrude Astor (born Gertrude Irene Eyster; November 9, 1887 – November 9, 1977) was an American motion picture character actress, who began her career playing trombone in a woman's band. Early years Astor was born on November 9, 1887, in ...

). Troubles start when Louise remarries a selfish but rich man named Elton Reeves (

Wilfred Lucas Wilfred Van Norman Lucas (January 30, 1871 – December 13, 1940) was a Canadian American stage actor who found success in film as an actor, director, and screenwriter. Early life Lucas was born in Norfolk County, Ontario on January 30, 1871,US ...

). He convinces her to move to

America The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

and leave Jeanne behind in Belgium to live with the maid Marie (

Helen Raymond Helen Raymond (September 3, 1878 – November 26, 1965) was an American stage actress who did comedy roles on Broadway, and also appeared in Hollywood motion pictures and in vaudeville. Early years Raymond was born September 3, 1878, in Ph ...

). At first Louise refuses to, but eventually gives in and leaves Jeanne in the care of Marie. Five years pass and Jeanne and Marie bonded. Meanwhile, Louise hated living in America and feels guilty having left her kid behind. She returns to Belgium to reunite with Jeanne, but Marie does not want to give her up. When Louise finally arrives, Marie lies to her Jeanne drowned in a river nearby. Louise is devastated and collapses, before returning to America. This results in estranging from Elton.

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

breaks out and Belgium is occupied by Germany. Marie fears for Jeanne's safety and brings her to America to live with her mother. After an emotional goodbye, Jeanne sets out for America to find her mother. Along the way she meets two orphan boys and decides to take care of them. When she finally arrives in America, she travels to Louise's big mansion. Too afraid to tell her she is her daughter, Jeanne applies to serve as her maid. While pretending to be someone else, she gets to know her mother. However, she has trouble keeping up the lie and wants nothing more but have a reconciliation. Waiting for the right time to tell the truth, Jeanne hopes everything will come to a right end. When guests of the mansion plot to fleece Elton, Jeanne is forced to reveal her true identity to save the day. A happy reunion follows.

Cast

as Jeanne *

as Louise Reeves *

as Elton Reeves *

as Marie * C. Norman Hammond as Jacques Lanvain *

Elinor Fair Elinor Virginia Martin (''née'' Crowe; December 21, 1903 – April 26, 1957), known professionally as Elinor Fair, was an American motion picture actress. Early years Elinor Virginia Crowe was born on December 21, 1903, in Richmond, Virginia, ...

as Margaret Brewster *

Adolphe Menjou Adolphe Jean Menjou (February 18, 1890 – October 29, 1963) was an American actor whose career spanned both silent films and talkies. He became a leading man during the 1920s, known for his debonair and sophisticated screen presence. He was no ...

as James Brewster *

Peaches Jackson Peaches Jackson (October 9, 1913 – February 23, 2002) was an American film actress. Her sister, Mary Ann Jackson also became a child actor, and appeared in many of the Little Rascals short films for Hal Roach. Peaches (Charlotte) stopp ...

as Conrad *

Doreen Turner Doreen may refer to: __NOTOC__ *Doreen (given name), a feminine given name in English-speaking countries; any of several people or fictional characters Songs * "Doreen", on the 1981 Frank Zappa album ''You Are What You Is'' * "Doreen", on the 1993 ...

as Constant *

John Harron John Harron (March 31, 1904 – November 24, 1939) was an American actor. He appeared in more than 160 films between 1918 and 1940. Born on March 31, 1904, in New York City, he was the brother of actor Robert Harron and of actress Mary ...

as Billy Boy *

George Dromgold George C. Dromgold (July 14, 1893 – April 9, 1948) was an actor and writer, who wrote a book about his South Seas exploration. Early years George Dromgold was the son of R. W. Dromgold, a Los Angeles businessman, real estate investor, and mem ...

as Chauffeur *

Jeanne Carpenter Theo-Alice Jeanne Carpenter (February 1, 1917 – January 5, 1994) was an American child actress of the silent era

as Jeanne (age 5)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Through The Back Door 1921 films 1921 comedy-drama films 1920s English-language films American silent feature films American black-and-white films United Artists films Films set in Belgium Films directed by Alfred E. Green Articles containing video clips Films with screenplays by Gerald Duffy 1920s American films Silent American comedy-drama films English-language comedy-drama films