Clothes Make the Pirate
Encyclopedia
Clothes Make the Pirate is a 1925 silent film
starring Leon Errol
and Dorothy Gish
. The 90-minute silent adventure movie was written by Marion Fairfax
from the novel by Holman Francis Day
and directed by Maurice Tourneur
. It is a so-called lost film
, with a one minute trailer surviving.
The film is a comedy
that centers around a disgruntled 18th century Bostonian
, played by Errol, who while wishing that he was a pirate, dons the clothes and play-acts the part. He is mistaken for the real pirate, Dixie Bull (played by Walter Law) whom Errol, of course, bumps into later in the film.
More importantly, Errol "slays" the villain and puts his foot upon the pirate's head. This is more than enough and he heads back home to his unappreciated wife, played by Dorothy Gish
. Contemporary reviewers of the time claimed Errol was miscast, perhaps for the comedic cowardice of the part.
Variety Magazine gave the film a poor review, stating that the children would like it. However other reviews, such as that in the Los Angeles Times
of 10 Jan 1926 gave the film, as a satire
, generally good reviews.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
starring Leon Errol
Leon Errol
Leon Errol , was an Australian-born American comedian and actor, popular in the first half of the 20th century.-Biography:...
and Dorothy Gish
Dorothy Gish
Dorothy Elizabeth Gish was an American actress, and the younger sister of actress Lillian Gish.-Early life:...
. The 90-minute silent adventure movie was written by Marion Fairfax
Marion Fairfax
Marion Fairfax was an American screenwriter and Broadway playwright.Born as Marion Neiswanger in Richmond, Virginia, her best known credit was the screenplay for The Lost World . She was married to actor Tully Marshall from 1899 until his death in 1943...
from the novel by Holman Francis Day
Holman Day
- Biography :Holman Francis Day was an American author, born at Vassalboro, Me., and a graduate of Colby College . In 1889-90 he was managing editor of the publications of the Union Publishing Company, Bangor, Me...
and directed by Maurice Tourneur
Maurice Tourneur
Maurice Tourneur was an important international film director and screenwriter.-Life:Born Maurice Thomas in the Belleville district of Paris, France, his father was a jeweler. As a young man, Maurice Thomas first trained as a graphic designer and a magazine illustrator but was soon drawn to the...
. It is a so-called lost film
Lost film
A lost film is a feature film or short film that is no longer known to exist in studio archives, private collections or public archives such as the Library of Congress, where at least one copy of all American films are deposited and catalogued for copyright reasons...
, with a one minute trailer surviving.
The film is a comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
that centers around a disgruntled 18th century Bostonian
Bostonian
A Bostonian is a resident of Boston or Greater Boston, Massachusetts, United States.Bostononian may also refer to:* Bostonian , an American Thoroughbred racehorse* The Bostonians, a novel by Henry James...
, played by Errol, who while wishing that he was a pirate, dons the clothes and play-acts the part. He is mistaken for the real pirate, Dixie Bull (played by Walter Law) whom Errol, of course, bumps into later in the film.
More importantly, Errol "slays" the villain and puts his foot upon the pirate's head. This is more than enough and he heads back home to his unappreciated wife, played by Dorothy Gish
Dorothy Gish
Dorothy Elizabeth Gish was an American actress, and the younger sister of actress Lillian Gish.-Early life:...
. Contemporary reviewers of the time claimed Errol was miscast, perhaps for the comedic cowardice of the part.
Variety Magazine gave the film a poor review, stating that the children would like it. However other reviews, such as that in the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
of 10 Jan 1926 gave the film, as a satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
, generally good reviews.
Cast
- Leon ErrolLeon ErrolLeon Errol , was an Australian-born American comedian and actor, popular in the first half of the 20th century.-Biography:...
as Tremble-at-Evil Tidd - Dorothy GishDorothy GishDorothy Elizabeth Gish was an American actress, and the younger sister of actress Lillian Gish.-Early life:...
as Betsy Tidd - Nita Naldi as Madame De La Tour
- George F. MarionGeorge F. MarionGeorge F. Marion Sr. was an American stage actor and director, a film actor and director of two silent films. George F. Marion, who was born in San Francisco, California was father of writer George Marion Jr. and he died of a heart attack at the age of 85 years in Carmel, California, USA. Marion...
as Jennison - Tully MarshallTully MarshallWilliam Phillips was an American character actor known as Tully Marshall, with nearly a quarter century of theatrical experience behind before he made his first film appearance in 1914.-Career:...
as Scute - Frank Lawlor as Crabb
- Edna MurphyEdna MurphyEdna Murphy was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 80 films between 1918 and 1933. Murphy was voted "Most Photographed Movie Star of 1925" by ScreenLand Magazine....
as Nancy Downs - James RennieJames Rennie (actor)James Rennie was a Canadian film actor who appeared in several Hollywood films during the 1920s and 1930s.-Early life:...
as Lieutenant Cavendish - Walter LawWalter LawWalter Law , was an American actor. He appeared in 47 films between 1915 and 1936.He was born in Dayton, Ohio, USA and died in Hollywood, California.-Selected filmography:* The Forbidden Path * Camille...
as Dixie Bull - Reginald BarlowReginald BarlowReginald Harry Barlow was a veteran stage and screen character actor, author, and film director. He was a busy performer in Hollywood films of the 1930s.-Early life:...
as Captain Montague