''French Heels'' is a

lost Lost may refer to getting lost, or to: Geography *Lost, Aberdeenshire, a hamlet in Scotland * Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, or LOST, a hiking and cycling trail in Florida, US History *Abbreviation of lost work, any work which is known to have bee ...

1922 American silent

romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typica ...

film directed by Edwin L. Hollywood and starring

Irene Castle Vernon and Irene Castle were a husband-and-wife team of ballroom dancers and dance teachers who appeared on Broadway and in silent films in the early 20th century. They are credited with reviving the popularity of modern dancing. Castle was a st ...

. Based on short story "Knots and Windshakes" by

Clarence Budington Kelland Clarence Budington "Bud" Kelland (July 11, 1881 – February 18, 1964) was an American writer. Prolific and versatile, he was a prominent literary figure in his heyday, and he described himself as "the best second-rate writer in America". Kelland ...

which appeared in ''

Everybody's Magazine ''Everybody's Magazine'' was an American magazine published from 1899 to 1929. The magazine was headquartered in New York City. History and profile The magazine was founded by Philadelphia merchant John Wanamaker in 1899, though he had little role ...

'', it was distributed by W. W. Hodkinson.The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: ''French Heels''
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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 ...

, Lieutenant John Tabor (Crane) returns from

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and calls on Palma May (Castle), the sister of his buddy who died just before the signing of the

Armistice An armistice is a formal agreement of warring parties to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, as it may constitute only a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace. It is derived from the ...

. He finds that, with the death of her brother, she is now alone in the world and offers to help her. Palma is grateful but declines his offer and seeks work in New York City as a dancer. After many attempts she gets a position in a cabaret chorus and quickly rises to prominence. She meets John again and they become fast friends. Jarvis Tabor, Johns's father, a wealthy lumberman, is opposed to his son's marriage to a dancer even though he has never met Palma. Coming back home after a quiet wedding to the father's house, the couple find a letter ordering John to come at once to the

lumber camp A logging camp (or lumber camp) is a transitory work site used in the logging industry. Before the second half of the 20th century, these camps were the primary place where lumberjacks would live and work to fell trees in a particular area. Many ...

to assist in quelling some labor troubles. His dancing butterfly wife agrees to accompany him. At the lumber camp the two live in a shack under trying conditions. Palma is entirely out of place in the rough lumber camp but valiantly struggles to make good for her husband's sake. She is tempted to return to her old life by her former manager and is on the verge of leaving when she discovers that John is being attacked by a gang of lumberjacks. Unmindful of the danger, she plunges into the midst of the fight to save him. She is reinforced by Jarvis and some other men and together they beat back the rebellious workmen. Meeting his son's bride under such unusual conditions, the prior prejudice of the father is readily overcome when he witnesses her finer qualities.

Cast

as Palma May *

Ward Crane Ward Crane (May 18, 1890 – July 21, 1928) was an American silent film actor popular in comedies and dramas. Out of dozens of films, he is remembered as the handsome heavy to Buster Keaton's hero in ''Sherlock Jr.'' (1924). Crane died aged ...

as Lieutenant John Tabor * Charles K. Gerrard as Keith Merwyn *

Howard Truesdale Howard Truesdale (January 3, 1861 – December 8, 1941; also credited as Truesdell, Truedell, and Truesdall) was an American stage actor and a film actor in both the silent and sound eras. He appeared in the films ''A Corner in Cotton'', ''The P ...

as Jarvis Tabor * Tom Murray as Camp Foreman

References

External links

* *
Lobby card
(archived) 1922 films American silent feature films Films based on short fiction Lost American films 1922 romantic comedy films American black-and-white films American romantic comedy films Films distributed by W. W. Hodkinson Corporation 1922 lost films Films directed by Edwin L. Hollywood 1920s American films Silent romantic comedy films Silent American comedy films {{1920s-silent-comedy-film-stub