''Bunty Pulls the Strings'' is a lost 1921 American silent comedy film directed by

Reginald Barker Reginald C. Barker (April 2, 1886 – February 23, 1945) was a pioneer film director. Biography Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Barker's family moved to Scotland when he was an infant and then to the United States. Living in California, ...

and starring

Leatrice Joy Leatrice Joy (born Leatrice Johanna Zeidler; November 7, 1893 – May 13, 1985) was an American actress most prolific during the silent film era. Early life Joy was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to dentist Edward Joseph Zeidler. She at ...

. It is based on the London and Broadway play by Graham Moffat. On stage the part of Bunty was played and made famous by Molly Pearson. The film was produced and distributed by

Goldwyn Pictures Goldwyn Pictures Corporation was an American motion picture production company that operated from 1916 to 1924 when it was merged with two other production companies to form the major studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was founded on November 19, ...

Plot

Bunty Biggar, sister of Rab and Jeemy, lives with her brothers and her father Tammas in a small Scottish village. One day, Jeemy confesses to having robbed a bank and asks his father to help him put the money back where it belongs. Tammas then takes the money entrusted to him by Susie Simpson, a spinster who has designs on him. But Susie, listening to a telephone conversation between Tammas and Eelen, an old friend of hers, discovers the man's embezzlement. Susie now demands to get all her money back immediately. Having not returned it, Tammas is pilloried by Susie, who denounces the crime in the church in front of the whole community. Bunty intercedes for her father and returns the money lent to her by Weelum. The latter, in love with Bunty, takes her as his wife: the wedding is celebrated with a double ceremony, which also sees Tammas and Eelen in front of the altar.

Production

The film is based on a stage play distinguished by the Scottish dialect throughout. In order to translate this to the silent medium, Goldwyn's vice president Abraham Lehr, told ''Exhibitors Herald'', "Our big task in 'Bunty Pulls the Strings' was to retain consistent Scotch atmosphere throughout the entire picture. Our cast was either directly Scotch or of Scotch descent." This was a bit of a stretch: lead actress Joy was of Austrian and French descent on her father's side and of German and Irish descent on her mother's side. Lehr went on, "To retain fidelity to Scotch atmosphere we leased a ranch which abounded in highlands and lowlands, with a stream so situated as to enable our workmen to build streets on each side of it."

Cast

as Bunty * Russell Simpson as Tammas Biggar * Raymond Hatton as Weelum * Cullen Landis as Rab * Casson Ferguson as Jeemy *

Josephine Crowell Josephine Bonaparte CrowellSlide, Anthony (1973). The Griffith Actresses'. South Brunswick: A.S. Barnes. pp. 22, 24. . (January 11, 1859– July 27, 1932) was a Canadian film actress of the silent era. She appeared in more than 90 fil ...

as Susie Simpson *

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 Ball''. ...

as Eelen Dunlap *Roland Rushton as Minister * Georgia Woodthorpe as Mrs. Drummon *Sadie Gordon as Maggie *

Otto Hoffman Otto F. Hoffman (May 2, 1879 – June 23, 1944) was an American film actor. He appeared in almost 200 films between 1915 and 1944. He was born in New York City and died in Los Angeles, California, from lung cancer. Hoffman's Broadway credi ...

as Beadle

References

External links

* 1921 films American silent feature films Lost American comedy films Films directed by Reginald Barker Goldwyn Pictures films American black-and-white films Silent American comedy films 1921 comedy films 1921 lost films 1920s American films 1920s English-language films English-language comedy films {{1920s-silent-comedy-film-stub