''Prince of Tempters'' is a 1926 American silent

romance film Romance films involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion (emotion), passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typically their ...

directed by

Lothar Mendes Lothar Mendes (19 May 1894 – 24 February 1974) was a German-born screenwriter and film director. His two best known films are ''Jew Süss (1934 film), Jew Süss'' (1934) and ''The Man Who Could Work Miracles'' (1936), both productions for Briti ...

and starring

Lois Moran Lois Moran (born Lois Darlington Dowling; March 1, 1909 – July 13, 1990) was an American film and stage actress.

Ben Lyon Ben Lyon (February 6, 1901 – March 22, 1979) was an American film actor and a studio executive at 20th Century-Fox who later acted in British radio, films and TV. Early life and career Lyon was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Alvine W ...

, and

Lya De Putti Lya de Putti (born Amália Helena Mária Róza Putti; , 10 January 1896 – 27 November 1931) was a Hungarian film actress during the silent film, silent era. She was noted for her portrayals of vamp (woman), vamp characters. Early life and care ...

. It is based on the 1924 novel ''

The Ex-Duke ''The Ex-Duke'' (US title ''The interloper'') is a 1924 thriller novel by the British author E. Phillips Oppenheim. Film adaptation In 1926 the novel was adapted into the American silent film ''Prince of Tempters'' directed by Lothar Mendes and ...

'' by the British writer E. Phillips Oppenheim.

Plot

While in Italy, the Duke of Chatsfield clandestinely marries a peasant woman, and they have a son named Francis. After the parents pass away following their separation, Francis is raised in a monastery. Upon reaching the age of 20, Francis takes his final vows. Meanwhile, his uncle, a duke, discovers that Francis is the rightful heir to the dukedom. With a dispensation granted by the Pope, Francis assumes the title. In London, Mario, a destitute novice posing as Baron Giordano, seeks to wed Monica, Francis' attractive cousin. To eliminate his competition, Mario recruits Dolores, his former lover, to entrap Francis. Despite falling prey to Dolores' tactics, Francis falls in love with Monica during a visit to his relatives, and they become engaged. However, Monica breaks off the engagement upon learning of Dolores' affections for Francis. Disheartened, Francis returns to London and engages in a series of flirtations. Upon discovering Monica's acceptance of Mario's proposal, Francis returns to the monastery. Dolores reveals Mario's deceit to Monica before taking her own life, leading to the reconciliation of the lovers.

Cast

Lois Moran Lois Moran (born Lois Darlington Dowling; March 1, 1909 – July 13, 1990) was an American film and stage actress.

as Monica *

as Francis *

as Dolores *

Ian Keith Ian Keith (born Keith Ross; February 27, 1899 – March 26, 1960) was an American actor. Early years Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Keith grew up in Chicago. He was educated at the Francis Parker School there and played Hamlet in a school pr ...

as Mario Ambrosio, later Baron Humberto Giordano *

Mary Brian Mary Brian (born Louise Byrdie Dantzler, February 17, 1906 – December 30, 2002) was an American actress who made the transition from silent films to sound films. Early life Brian was born in Corsicana, Texas, the daughter of Taurrence J. ...

as Mary *

Olive Tell Olive Tell (September 27, 1894 – June 8, 1951) was a stage and screen actress from New York City. Biography Tell was educated in several cities in Europe. She and her younger actress sister Alma Tell, Alma graduated from the American Academy ...

as Duchess of Chatsfield * Sam Hardy as Apollo Beneventa *

Henry Vibart Henry Vibart (25 December 1863 – 30 August 1943) was a Scottish stage and film actor, active from the 1880s until the early 1930s. He appeared in many theatrical roles in the UK and overseas, and featured in over 70 films of the silent era ...

as Duke of Chatsfield *

Judith Vosselli Judith Vosselli (June 25, 1895 – September 18, 1966) was a Spanish-born actress who appeared on the American stage and screen during the 1920s and 1930s. Biography Born in Barcelona, Vosselli made her American acting debut in the successful Br ...

as Signora Wembley * Fraser Coalter as Lawyer *

J. Barney Sherry J. Barney Sherry (March 4, 1874 – February 22, 1944) was an American actor of the silent film era. He appeared in more than 210 films between 1905 and 1929. He was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania and died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from c ...

as Papal Secretary *

Jeanne Carpenter Theo-Alice Jeanne Carpenter (February 1, 1917 – January 5, 1994) was an American child actress of the silent era

as Flower girl

Production

The film was made at the Cosmopolitan Studios in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

. It was the first film made in America by the German director

, who married

Dorothy Mackaill Dorothy Mackaill (March 4, 1903 – August 12, 1990) was a British-American actress, most active during the silent-film era and into the pre-Code era of the early 1930s. Early life Mackaill was born at 20 Newstead Street in the Dukeries, Kin ...

while working on the production.

Preservation

A copy of this film is held at the

Museum of Modern Art The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on 53rd Street (Manhattan), 53rd Street between Fifth Avenue, Fifth and Sixth Avenues. MoMA's collection spans the late 19th century to the present, a ...

, New York.The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: ''Prince of Tempters''
/ref>

References

Bibliography

* Koszarski, Richard. ''Hollywood on the Hudson: Film and Television in New York from Griffith to Sarnoff''. Rutgers University Press, 2008.

External links

* 1926 films Silent American romance films American silent feature films American black-and-white films 1926 romance films Films directed by Lothar Mendes Films set in Italy Films set in London Films based on British novels 1920s English-language films 1920s American films English-language romance films {{1920s-romance-film-stub