''The Midshipman '' is a 1925 American silent romantic drama film directed by Christy Cabanne. The film stars

Ramon Novarro José Ramón Gil Samaniego (February 6, 1899 – October 30, 1968), known professionally as Ramon Novarro, was a Mexican-American actor. He began his career in silent films in 1917 and eventually became a leading man and one of the top box ...

and

Harriet Hammond Harriet Hammond (October 20, 1899 – September 23, 1991) was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in more than 40 films between 1918 and 1930. Hammond, who was appearing in prominent roles in the Mack Sennett comedy feature ...

Joan Crawford Joan Crawford (born Lucille Fay LeSueur; March 23, ncertain year from 1904 to 1908was an American actress. She started her career as a dancer in traveling theatrical companies before debuting on Broadway theatre, Broadway. Crawford was si ...

had an early uncredited role as an extra.

Plot

James Randall (Novarro), a second year upperclassman at the Naval Academy, befriends plebe Ted Lawrence (Barry). At an Academy dance, James meets and falls in love with Ted's sister Patricia (Hammond). She is engaged to Basil Courtney (Kent), a wealthy reprobate who arranges with Rita (Key) to discredit James. On the night of the big dance, Rita goes to the guardhouse where James is scheduled to be on duty and arranges to be found with him. However, Ted has taken his place on duty, however, and James sees Ted with Rita in the guardhouse. Honorbound to report Ted for violation of Academy rules, James decides instead to resign. Courtney abducts Patricia on his yacht, and James rescues her. James discovers Rita's complicity in Courtney's schemes and decides to stay at the Academy, marrying Patricia upon his graduation.

Cast

Production

Much of ''The Midshipman'' was filmed on location at the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...

with the cooperation of the

Department of the Navy Navy Department or Department of the Navy may refer to: * United States Department of the Navy, * Navy Department (Ministry of Defence), in the United Kingdom, 1964-1997 * Confederate States Department of the Navy, 1861-1865 * Department of the ...

, allowing the use of the Brigade of Midshipmen as extras. For the graduation scene, Novarro receives the diploma from

Secretary of the Navy The secretary of the Navy (or SECNAV) is a statutory officer () and the head (chief executive officer) of the Department of the Navy, a military department (component organization) within the United States Department of Defense. By law, the se ...

Curtis D. Wilbur.

Preservation

A print of ''The Midshipman'' is preserved in the

George Eastman Museum Motion Picture Collection The George Eastman Museum Motion Picture Collection in Rochester, New York comprises about 28,000 titles, including features, shorts, documentaries, newsreels, and experimental moving images. The collection is renowned for its holdings of silent f ...

.The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: ''The Midshipman''
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References

External links

*

at silenthollywood.com
Still in Bancroft Hall
at USNA collection

at silentfilmstillarchive.com

at joancrawfordbest.com * 1925 films American silent feature films American romantic drama films Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films American black-and-white films Films directed by Christy Cabanne 1925 romantic drama films 1920s American films Silent romantic drama films Silent American drama films {{silent-romantic-drama-film-stub