''Alias Ladyfingers'' is a lost 1921 American silent

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending ( black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the o ...

based on the 1920

mystery novel Mystery is a fiction genre where the nature of an event, usually a murder or other crime, remains mysterious until the end of the story. Often within a closed circle of suspects, each suspect is usually provided with a credible motive and a re ...

''Ladyfingers'' by Jackson Gregory. It was adapted for the screen by

Lenore Coffee Lenore Jackson Coffee (July 13, 1896 – July 2, 1984) was an American screenwriter, playwright, and novelist. Biography Lenore was born in San Francisco in 1896 to Andrew Jackson Coffee Jr. and Ella Muffley. She attended Dominican College i ...

and was directed by

Bayard Veiller Bayard Veiller (January 2, 1869 – January 16, 1943) was an American playwright, screenwriter, producer and film director. He wrote for 32 films between 1915 and 1941. Biography He was born on January 2, 1869, in Brooklyn, New York to Phi ...

. The film stars

Bert Lytell Bertram Lytell (February 24, 1885 – September 28, 1954) was an American actor in theater and film during the silent film era and early talkies. He starred in romantic, melodrama, and adventure films. Background Born in New York City, Lyt ...

Ora Carew Ora Carew (born Ora Whytock; April 19, 1891 – October 26, 1955), was an American silent film actress. She starred in several films between 1915 and 1925. She was known as one of the Sennett Bathing Beauties. Early life Ora Whytock was born i ...

, Frank Elliot,

Edythe Chapman Edythe Chapman (October 8, 1863 – October 15, 1948) was an American stage and silent film actress. Career Born in Rochester, New York, Chapman began her stage career as early as 1898 when she appeared in New York City in ''The Charity Bal ...

, and

DeWitt Jennings DeWitt Clarke Jennings (June 21, 1871 – March 1, 1937) was an American film and stage actor. He appeared in 17 Broadway plays between 1906 and 1920, and in more than 150 films between 1915 and 1937. Biography He was born in Cameron, Miss ...

. The film was produced and distributed by Metro Pictures Corporation.

Synopsis

Rachel Stetherill (Edythe Chapman) disapproves of her daughter's choice for a husband, and therefore disowns her. After her daughter dies, Rachel refuses to help the child she has left behind. The boy is adopted by a

safecracker Safe-cracking is the process of opening a safe without either the combination or the key. Physical methods Different procedures may be used to crack a safe, depending on its construction. Different procedures are required to open different safes ...

, and soon excels at the profession. The boy grows up as Robert Ashe (Lytell), and becomes a safecracker renowned for his delicate hands and touch, hence the moniker "Ladyfingers". A lawyer, Justin Haddon (Frank Elliott), is trying to find Robert, who will inherit his grandmother's estate if he is found. If he is not located, Rachel's ward, Enid Camden (Ora Carew), will inherit the estate, and it is Haddon's intention to marry Enid. But Robert meets Enid and falls in love with her. Haddon suspects that Robert is a thief and invites him to Rachel's home, expecting him to steal her string of pearls. The pearls disappear and the police suspect Ladyfingers, but the pearls are found and the case is dismissed. Rachel notices the resemblance between him and her son-in-law, and soon realizes that he is her grandson. When his past is revealed, Ladyfingers confesses his crimes and agrees to go to jail for two years to pay his debt to society. After his release from his prison term, he takes up farming and is happily married to Enid.

Cast

as Robert Ashe (Ladyfingers) *

as Enid Camden * Frank Elliott as Justin Haddon *

as Rachel Stetherill *

as Lieutenant Ambrose *Stanley Goethals as Robert Ashe, (age 4)

Reviews and reception

A review in the ''Exhibitors Trade Review'' for the film when it played at The Rialto Theater in Allentown, Pennsylvania, said it was a "first-rate crook drama, with star well known and liked in Allentown. Sequence was good run, with attendance better than for some time". When the film played at the Kings Theatre in

St. Louis St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...

, Lytell appeared in person in conjunction with the film for three days and "proved to be a real drawing card", according to the ''Exhibitors Trade Review''. Lytell also appeared in person, three times daily, at the Strand Theater in

Milwaukee Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at th ...

, and his appearance "boosted the box office receipts way up...and ewas given a most generous welcome by his audiences". A review in the Exhibitors' Herald from 1923, said "this is a mighty good crook picture, be sure and let your people know what you have, as the name hurts business". When the film played in Pasadena, California, a

stationer Stationery refers to commercially manufactured writing materials, including cut paper, envelopes, writing implements, continuous form paper, and other office supplies. Stationery includes materials to be written on by hand (e.g., letter paper) ...

used pictures of scenes from the film for a window display. Blue cards were placed beside the items for sale, with advertising slogans that read: "We carry Check Protective Ink to guard your signature against the clever ''Alias Ladyfingers''", and another slogan read, "Even on your desk your valuable papers should be kept in our Steel Bond Boxes for fast is the work of the visiting ''Alias Ladyfingers''".

References

External links

* {{Bayard Veiller 1921 films American silent feature films American black-and-white films Lost American films Silent American comedy films 1921 comedy films Metro Pictures films 1921 lost films Lost comedy films 1920s American films