''Three Weeks'' is a 1924 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by

Alan Crosland Alan Crosland (August 10, 1894 – July 16, 1936) was an American stage actor and film director. He is noted for having directed the first feature film using spoken dialogue, '' The Jazz Singer'' (1927). Early life and career Born in New York C ...

. The movie is based on the 1907 novel of the same name by

Elinor Glyn Elinor Glyn ( Sutherland; 17 October 1864 – 23 September 1943) was a British novelist and scriptwriter who specialised in romantic fiction, which was considered scandalous for its time, although her works are relatively tame by modern stand ...

, and the title refers to the length of an affair by the Queen of Sardalia. Formerly a

lost film A lost film is a feature Feature may refer to: Computing * Feature (CAD), could be a hole, pocket, or notch * Feature (computer vision), could be an edge, corner or blob * Feature (software design) is an intentional distinguishing char ...

, the FIAF database indicates a print is preserved by Russia's Gosfilmofond.The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: ''Three Weeks''
/ref> The novel had previously been made into the American film , directed by Perry N. Vekroff and starring

Madlaine Traverse Madlaine Traverse (born Mary Businsky; August 1, 1875 – January 7, 1964) was an American stage and screen actress from Cleveland, Ohio. In the course of her career she is alternately billed as "Madaline Traverse", "Madeline Traverse" and "Madel ...

and George C. Pearce,Internet Movie Database
Overview of the 1914 version and in a 1917 Hungarian film titled ''Három hét'' that was directed by

Márton Garas Márton Garas (1881–1930) was a Hungary, Hungarian film director. Selected filmography Director * ''Three Weeks (1917 film), Három het'' (1917) * ''Anna Karenina (1918 film), Anna Karenina'' (1918) * ''Oliver Twist (1919 film), Oliver Twist'' ...

. The 1924 production was the first to be authorized and supervised by Glyn, which was noted in advertising for the film.

Plot

As described in a film magazine review, the Queen of Sardalia, in a bad marriage with the brutal King Constantine II, leaves her dissipated husband for a trip to Switzerland. There she meets Paul Verdayne, a young Englishman, who becomes her lover. The King sends men to kill Paul, but he escapes them. After three weeks the Queen bids him farewell without revealing her identity. Three years later she sends for him. The lovers meet again, but she is slain by the King, who in turn dies at the hand of a servant. As time passes Paul becomes a great British statesman. Visiting Sardalia, he sees his son reigning as monarch of that country.

Cast

Production

For a well known scene from the novel involving the Queen and a tiger skin, Glyn's script states that, rather than describing it, she would enact it for director Crosland on the set. In the film, the Queen is lying on a tiger skin provided by Paul when he comes into the room. She tells him to sit in a chair and then, shown from Paul's point of view, the Queen spreads herself on the tiger skin, runs her hands through the fur, arches her back, and closes her eyes, signifying her agreement to their affair.

Reception

According to contemporary records, the film made a profit of $162,825.23. Glyn was entitled to 40% of the profits and earned $65,130.

Preservation status

''Three Weeks'' survives with a copy in the

Gosfilmofond Gosfilmofond is a state film archive in Russia. It is the main film archive of the Russian Federation and a member of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF). It is a state cultural institution — curator of films collection and oth ...

archive in Moscow.

References

External links

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Stills
at silenthollywood.com 1924 films 1924 drama films Silent American drama films American silent feature films Films directed by Alan Crosland American black-and-white films Films set in Europe Films set in Switzerland Films set in Venice Goldwyn Pictures films 1920s rediscovered films Rediscovered American films 1920s American films {{silent-drama-film-stub