''Bell Boy 13'' is a 1923 American silent

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by William A. Seiter, and starring

Douglas MacLean Charles Douglas MacLean (January 10, 1890 – July 9, 1967) was an American stage and silent film actor who later worked as a producer and screenwriter in the sound era. Early life and stage career Born in Philadelphia, MacLean was educated at ...

, John Steppling,

Margaret Loomis Margaret Loomis (1893–1969) was an American film actress of the silent era.Goble p.239 Loomis was an only child. In addition to her acting, Loomis was a Denishawn dancer. She toured the United States as a member of the Denishawn School's in ...

William Courtright William Courtright (February 10, 1848 – March 6, 1933) was an American film actor. Early years He was born Theodore Courtright in New Milford, Illinois, and was educated in the public schools of Ione, California. When he was 16, he r ...

, Emily Gerdes, and Eugene Burr. The film was released by First National Pictures on January 19, 1923.

Plot

As described in a

film magazine Film periodicals combine discussion of individual films, genres and directors with in-depth considerations of the medium and the conditions of its production and reception. Their articles contrast with film reviewing in newspapers and magazines whi ...

, college graduate Harry Elrod (MacLean) wishes to marry actress Kitty Clyde (Loomis), but his Uncle Ellrey Elrod (Steppling) has picked out Angela Fish (Gerdes) as a wife for his nephew. Harry arranges an elopement with Kitty. His uncle's suspicions are aroused and he trails Harry continuously. Miss Fish and her father the Reverend Doctor Wilbur Fish (Courtright) call. Harry in desperation starts a fire in his room. He is rescued by the fire brigade and then stages a run through the streets in the fire chief's car, intending to catch another train and follow Kitty. He escapes the pursuing firemen, boards the train, and arrives safely at the Philadelphia hotel where Kitty will meet him. There he finds that she has changed her mind, coming to believe that he must have his uncle's consent. He then receives a telegram from his uncle, disowning him. Broke, Harry takes a job as a hotel bell boy. In uniform, he enters where Kitty is dining with Mr. Haskell (Steers), her press agent, and sits down, but is dragged away by the indignant hotel manager. Uncle Ellrey comes to the hotel but is shown the wrong room by Harry, so he demands that Harry be fired. The manager, ever ready to make a guest happy, is ready to oblige him, but Harry turns Bolshevist and induces the entire hotel staff to go on strike. The end result is that the uncle is defeated, and Harry wins Kitty.

Cast

as Harry Elrod * John Steppling as Uncle Ellrey Elrod *

as Kitty Clyde *

as Reverend Doctor Wilbur Fish *

Emily Gerdes Emily Gerdes (sometimes credited as Emma Gerdes) was an American character actress active primarily during Hollywood's silent era. Biography Emily was born in Jefferson, Kansas, to Herman Gerdes (a veterinarian) and Mary Ellen Glaze. The fami ...

as Angela Fish *Eugene Burr as The Mystery Man *Jean Walsh as Pink * William Irving as Hotel Dining Room Guest (uncredited) *

Edgar Kennedy Edgar Livingston Kennedy (April 26, 1890 – November 9, 1948) was an American comedic character actor who appeared in at least 500 films during the silent and sound eras. Professionally, he was known as "Slow Burn", owing to his ability to por ...

as Chef (uncredited) *

Larry Steers Lawrence Wells Steers (February 14, 1888 – February 15, 1951) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 550 films between 1917 and 1951. He was born in Indiana, and died in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. Partial filmography * ...

as Mr. Haskell, Press Agent (uncredited)

Preservation

Prints of the film survive 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 library ...

and

UCLA Film and Television Archive The UCLA Film & Television Archive is a visual arts organization focused on the preservation, study, and appreciation of film and television, based at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Also a nonprofit exhibition venue, the ar ...

.American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: ''Bell Boy 13''
/ref>

References

External links

* * 1923 comedy films First National Pictures films Silent American comedy films 1923 films American silent feature films American black-and-white films Films directed by William A. Seiter 1920s American films {{silent-comedy-film-stub