''A Prince There Was'' is a lost 1921 American silent

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. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by Tom Forman and written by

Waldemar Young Waldemar Young (July 1, 1878 – August 30, 1938) was an American screenwriter. He wrote for more than 80 films between 1917 and 1938. Biography He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and died in Hollywood, California from pneumonia. Waldem ...

based upon the film is based on the novel ''Enchanted Hearts'' by Darragh Aldrich and the play by

George M. Cohan George Michael Cohan (July 3, 1878November 5, 1942) was an American entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer and theatrical producer. Cohan began his career as a child, performing with his parents and sister in a vaudev ...

. The film stars

Thomas Meighan Thomas Meighan (April 9, 1879 – July 8, 1936) was an American actor of silent films and early talkies. He played several leading-man roles opposite popular actresses of the day, including Mary Pickford and Gloria Swanson. At one point he made ...

Mildred Harris Mildred Harris (November 29, 1901 – July 20, 1944) was an American stage, film, and vaudeville actress during the early part of the 20th century. She began her career in the film industry as a child actress at age 10. She was also the first w ...

, Charlotte Jackson, Nigel Barrie,

Guy Oliver George Guy Oliver (September 25, 1878 – September 1, 1932) was an American actor. He appeared in at least 189 silent film era motion pictures and 32 talkies in character roles between 1911 and 1931. His obituary gives him credit for at least ...

, Arthur Stuart Hull, and

Sylvia Ashton Sylvia Ashton (January 26, 1880 – November 18, 1940) was an American film actress of the silent film era. Ashton was born in Denver, Colorado. She bore a heavyset resemblance to Jane Darwell and like Darwell was playing mother and grand ...

. The film was released on November 13, 1921, by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

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 ...

, wealthy Charles Edward Martin (Meighan) has been leading a shiftless, luxurious life and takes no interest in himself or others until a little boarding house drudge (Jackson), who sleeps under the stairs there and where she can hear the comings and goings of the residents, calls on him to seek his aid for a struggling young woman novelist, Katherine Woods (Harris), who lives there. The young millionaire had previously been urged to take the position as assistant editor of a popular magazine, but had declined, preferring a sodden life. The earnestness of the girl interests him and, more as an exploit than an ambition, he undertakes playing "fairy prince" to the novelist. He moves into the boarding house, where there are several humorous character sketches, and almost immediately falls in love with Katherine. He assumes the name Prince, and the novelist does not recognize him as the man whose money drove her father into financial ruin and suicide. She gives "Prince" the manuscript of a novel which he buys immediately. Charles then hastens to his magazine publisher friend Jack Carruthers (Barrie) to get it printed. Jack tells him that the magazine had already seen it and declined to publish the novel. Remembering the hope in Katherine's eyes when he pretended to buy the novel, Charles purchases the entire magazine publishing establishment, much to the consternation of his broker, J.J. Stratton (Hull). It turns out that the rather unscrupulous broker had manipulated Charles' funds so as to ruin Katherine's father without his client's knowledge.

Cast

as Charles Edward Martin *

as Katherine Woods * Charlotte Jackson as Comfort Brown * Nigel Barrie as Jack Carruthers *

as Bland * Arthur Stuart Hull as J.J. Stratton *

as Mrs. Prouty *

Fred Huntley Fred Huntley (29 August 1862 in London, England – 1 November 1931 in Hollywood, California) was an English silent film actor and director. Fred Huntley made his theater debut at London's Covent Garden in 1879. After years as the leading ...

as Mr. Cricket *

Peaches Jackson Peaches Jackson (October 9, 1913 – February 23, 2002) was an American film actress. Her sister, Mary Ann Jackson also became a child actor, and appeared in many of the Little Rascals short films for Hal Roach. Peaches (Charlotte) stopp ...

as Little Girl

References

External links

* 1921 films American silent feature films 1920s English-language films Silent American drama films 1921 drama films Lost American drama films Paramount Pictures films Films directed by Tom Forman American black-and-white films 1921 lost films 1920s American films English-language drama films {{1920s-silent-drama-film-stub