''A Voice in the Dark'' is a 1921 American black-and-white silent

mystery film A mystery film is a genre of film that revolves around the solution of a problem or a crime. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of an issue by means of clues, i ...

directed by

Frank Lloyd Frank William George Lloyd (2 February 1886 – 10 August 1960) was a British-born American film director, actor, scriptwriter, and producer. He was among the founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and was its preside ...

and starring

Ramsey Wallace Ramsey Wallace was an actor in silent films. His work included leading roles. He starred in '' A Voice in the Dark (film)''. He received a favorable review for his leading role in ''The Call of Home''. He worked as a promoter after his film care ...

Irene Rich Irene Rich (born Irene Frances Luther; October 13, 1891 – April 22, 1988) was an American actress who worked in both silent films and talkies, as well as radio. Early life Rich was born in Buffalo, New York. At age 17, she wed Elvo Elc ...

, and

Alec B. Francis Alec B. Francis (born Alec Francis Budd, 2 December 1867 – 6 July 1934) was an English actor, largely of the silent era. He appeared in more than 240 films between 1911 and 1934. Biography Francis was born in Suffolk, England. He studied law ...

. The film is based on the play ''A Voice in the Dark'' by Ralph E. Dyar (New York, July 28, 1919).

Plot

Two sisters engaged on the same day: Adele, the younger, to Dr. Hugh Sainsbury, and Blanche, the eldest, to Harlan Day, an assistant district attorney. They are both suspected of committing a murder when Sainsbury is found dead. Blanche has a motive as Sainsbury almost dishonored her so that she wanted to prevent her sister from marrying him. Thanks to the testimony of two witnesses, a deaf woman and a blind man residing in the sanatorium where Sainsbury was working, the murder is resolved: the culprit is Amelia Ellingham, a nurse whom Sainsbury had seduced and to whom he had proposed to marry.

Cast

as Harlan Day *

as Blanche Walton *

as Joseph Crampton (as Alec Francis) * Alan Hale as Dr. Hugh Sainsbury *

Ora Carew Ora Carew (born Ora Whytock; April 19, 1891 – October 26, 1955), was an American silent film actress. She starred in several films between 1915 and 1925. She was known as one of the Sennett Bathing Beauties. Early life Ora Whytock was born i ...

as Adele Walton * William Scott as Chester Thomas *

Richard Tucker Richard Tucker (August 28, 1913January 8, 1975) was an American operatic tenor and cantor. Long associated with the Metropolitan Opera, Tucker's career was primarily centered in the United States. Early life Tucker was born Rivn (Rubin) Ticke ...

as Lieutenant Patrick Cloyd *

Alice Hollister Alice Hollister (born Rosalie Alice Amélie Berger, September 28, 1886 – February 24, 1973) was an American silent film actress who appeared in around 90 films between 1910 and 1925. She is known for her roles in movies such as '' From the Ma ...

as Amelia Ellingham *

Gertrude Norman Gertrude Norman (May 19, 1848 or 1851 – July 20, 1943), was an English/American theater and Hollywood silent film actress. She is credited with being in 44 films between 1911 and 1936. She was also a screenwriter and director for early silent ...

as Mrs. Lydiard * James Neill as Edward Small

Preservation status

*A print is preserved in the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The libra ...

.''Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress'', (<-book title) p.202 c.1978 by The Film Institute

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Voice in the Dark 1921 films American silent feature films Films directed by Frank Lloyd 1921 drama films Silent American drama films American black-and-white films 1920s English-language films 1920s American films 1921 mystery films American mystery films Goldwyn Pictures films