''Alf's Button'' is a 1920 British silent

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Cecil Hepworth Cecil Milton Hepworth (19 March 1874 – 9 February 1953) was a British film director, film producer, producer and screenwriter. He was among the founders of the Cinema of the United Kingdom, British film industry and continued making films ...

and starring

Leslie Henson Leslie Lincoln Henson (3 August 1891 – 2 December 1957) was an English comedian, actor, singer, producer for films and theatre, and film director. He initially worked in silent films and Edwardian musical comedy and became a popular music hal ...

Alma Taylor Alma Louise Taylor (3 January 1895 – 23 January 1974) was a British actress. Life Taylor was born in London. She made her first screen appearance as a child actor in the 1907 film ''His Daughter's Voice''. She went on to appear in more th ...

and

Gerald Ames Gerald Ames (12 September 1880 – 2 July 1933) was a British actor, film director and Olympic fencer. Ames was born in Blackheath, London in 1880 and first took up acting in 1905. He was a popular leading man in the post-First World War cinema ...

. It was based on the 1920 novel '' Alf's Button'' by

William Darlington William Darlington (April 28, 1782 – April 23, 1863) was an American physician, botanist, and politician who served as a Democratic-Republican Party, Democratic-Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 2nd cong ...

. The film is about a British soldier who discovers a magic coat

button A button is a fastener that joins two pieces of fabric together by slipping through a loop or by sliding through a buttonhole. In modern clothing and fashion design, buttons are commonly made of plastic but also may be made of metal, wood, or ...

which summons a

genie GEnie (General Electric Network for Information Exchange) was an online service provider, online service created by a General Electric business, GEIS (now GXS Inc., GXS), that ran from 1985 through the end of 1999. In 1994, GEnie claimed around ...

to grant his various wishes. It was remade as a sound film in 1930. It was shot at

Walton Studios Walton Studios, previously named Hepworth Studios and Nettlefold Studios, was a film production studio in Walton-on-Thames in Surrey, England.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 ...

, during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, Alf (Henson) discovers that he has a brass button which, when he rubs it, summons Eustace (Carew), a

. While in the trenches, the genie brings Alf and his friend Bill (MacAndrews) goblets of beer, pretty young women, a bath, and anything their hearts desire. Finally, Alf is discharged from the Army and marries Liz (Taylor), who returns the button to the genie.

Cast

as Alf Higgins *

as Liz *

as Lt. Denis Allen *

James Carew James Usselman (February 5, 1876 – April 4, 1938), known professionally as James Carew, was an American actor who appeared in many films, mainly in Britain. He was born in Goshen, Indiana in 1876 and began working as a clerk in a publishing fi ...

as Eustace, the genie *

Eileen Dennes Eileen Dennes (1 February 1898 – 22 January 1991) was an Irish-born actress of the silent era. Early life and career Eileen Dennes was born Eileen Amhurst Cowen on 1 February 1898 in Dublin, Ireland. She began on the stage in the early 19 ...

as Lady Isobel Fitzpeter *

John MacAndrews John MacAndrews was a British actor of the silent era. Selected filmography * ''The Vicar of Wakefield'' (1913) * ''The Heart of Midlothian'' (1914) * ''The Chimes'' (1914) * '' For Her People'' (1914) * '' Far from the Madding Crowd'' (1915) * ...

as Bill Grant * Gwynne Herbert as Lady Fitzpeter *

Jean Cadell Jean Dunlop Cadell (13 September 1884 – 29 September 1967) was a Scottish character actress. Although her married name was Jean Dunlop Perceval-Clark she retained her maiden name in the context of acting. Life and career She was born at 4 ...

as Vicar's wife

References

Bibliography

* Low, Rachael.
History of the British Film, 1918-1929
'. George Allen & Unwin, 1971. .

External links

* 1920 films 1920 comedy films 1920s fantasy comedy films 1920s English-language films Films directed by Cecil Hepworth Hepworth Pictures films Films based on British novels British black-and-white films British silent feature films Films shot at Nettlefold Studios 1920s British films Silent fantasy comedy films British fantasy comedy films English-language fantasy comedy films {{UK-silent-comedy-film-stub