''Ladies of Leisure'' is a 1926 American silent

melodrama film In film studies and criticism, melodrama may variously refer to a genre, mode, style or sensibility characterized by its emphasis on intense and exaggerated emotions and heightened dramatic situations. There is no fixed definition of the term an ...

produced and distributed by

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...

. The film was directed by

Tom Buckingham Tom Buckingham (February 25, 1895 – September 7, 1934) was an American film director and screenwriter. He directed 48 films between 1920 and 1932. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, and died from surgical complications. His film '' Cock o ...

and stars Elaine Hammerstein. This film is not related in story to the 1930 Frank Capra film of the same name. However, prints of both films are held by the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is a research library in Washington, D.C., serving as the library and research service for the United States Congress and the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It also administers Copyright law o ...

Plot

As described in a film magazine review, Mamie Taylor, a hired companion and friend to Marian Forrest, is in love with latter's brother Jack. Mamie's affections are fixed on Van Norden, a wealthy bachelor. Eddie Lannigan, a crooked blackmailer, threatens to expose Mamie's past. She runs away, is stopped from committing suicide by Van Norden, who takes her to his residence. Jack trails Mamie and accuses Van Norden of disloyalty. Mamie exits by rear door and Marian suddenly appears, informing Jack she and Van Norden are married. Jack and Mamie are united.

Cast

* Elaine Hammerstein as Mamie Taylor * T. Roy Barnes as Eric Van Norden * Robert Ellis as Jack Forrest *

Gertrude Short Carmen Gertrude Short (April 6, 1902 – July 31, 1968) was an American film actress of the silent and early sound era. She appeared in more than 130 films between 1912 and 1945. Biography Gertrude Short was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the da ...

as Marian Forrest *

Tom Ricketts Thomas B. Ricketts (15 January 1853 – 19 January 1939) was an English-born American stage actor, stage and motion picture, film actor and film director, director who was a pioneer in the film industry. He portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge in the fi ...

as Wadleigh * Jim Mason as Eddie Lanigan * Joseph W. Girard as Detective

Preservation and status

Complete copies are held at the

George Eastman House The George Eastman Museum, also referred to as George Eastman House and the International Museum of Photography and Film, is a photography museum in Rochester, New York. Opened to the public in 1949, is the oldest museum dedicated to photography ...

and the

References

External links

* * * 1926 films American silent feature films Columbia Pictures films Films directed by Tom Buckingham Silent American drama films 1926 drama films American black-and-white films 1920s melodrama films 1920s American films Articles containing video clips {{1920s-silent-drama-film-stub