Lady of the Night
Encyclopedia
Lady of the Night is a 1925
American silent drama film
directed by Monta Bell
. The film stars Norma Shearer
in a dual role
.
) is sentenced to 20 years in prison by Judge Banning (Fred Esmelton
), and has to leave his wife and baby girl. By coincidence, the judge has a daughter about the same age.
Eighteen years later, the two now motherless young women (both played by Shearer) graduate, Florence Banning from an exclusive private school, Molly Helmer from reform school
. Molly and her two friends become taxi dancer
s. One day, Molly rejects the advances of a stranger at the dance hall where she works. When her boyfriend, "Chunky" Dunn (George K. Arthur
), tries to defend her, he gets knocked down. She is rescued by Chunky's friend, inventor David Page (Malcolm McGregor
), and falls in love with him. Page is oblivious to this and only sees her as a good pal. The more perceptive Chunky becomes increasingly jealous.
Page perfects a device that can open any safe. Chunky tells him that he knows a gang of crooks who would pay a lot of money for it, but Molly tells him that crime does not pay. Page shows his invention to the directors of a bank, Judge Banning being one. They are impressed and purchase it. As he is leaving the meeting, David bumps into Florence. She too falls for him. Soon, they are dating, much to the displeasure of Florence's spinster aunt. However, when Florence meets Molly by accident at David's workshop, she can see that Molly also loves David. She tells David that Molly has a greater claim to him and breaks up with him. When she gets into her limousine however, she finds Molly there waiting for her. Molly urges her to marry David, thinking only of his happiness. To fool David into believing she never loved him, Molly accepts Chunky's standing offer of marriage.
1925 in film
-Events:*November 5: The Big Parade holds its Grand Premier*December 30: premier of Ben-Hur the most expensive silent film ever made costing 4-6 million dollars -Top grossing films :...
American silent drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Monta Bell
Monta Bell
Monta Bell was an American film director, film producer and film editor.-Biography:Starting as a journalist in Washington DC, Bell later played on stage and entered films in 1923 as an actor. Charlie Chaplin employed Bell as a film editor and assistant director and in 1924, he became a...
. The film stars Norma Shearer
Norma Shearer
Edith Norma Shearer was a Canadian-American actress. Shearer was one of the most popular actresses in North America from the mid-1920s through the 1930s...
in a dual role
Dual role
Dual role refers to one actor playing two or more roles, which may be deliberately scripted in a play or film, or merely be a by-product of a low budget. In a theatrical production where more than one actor plays multiple characters, it is sometimes referred to as an "Ironman" cast...
.
Plot
Chris Helmer (Lew HarveyLew Harvey
Lew Harvey was an American film actor. He appeared in 145 films between 1918 and 1950.He was born in Wisconsin and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:* The Oklahoma Kid...
) is sentenced to 20 years in prison by Judge Banning (Fred Esmelton
Fred Esmelton
Fred Esmelton , was an American film actor. He appeared in 30 films between years 1916 and 1931.He was born in Melbourne, Victoria and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:...
), and has to leave his wife and baby girl. By coincidence, the judge has a daughter about the same age.
Eighteen years later, the two now motherless young women (both played by Shearer) graduate, Florence Banning from an exclusive private school, Molly Helmer from reform school
Reform school
A reform school in the United States was a term used to define, often somewhat euphemistically, what was often essentially a penal institution for boys, generally teenagers.-History:...
. Molly and her two friends become taxi dancer
Taxi dancer
A taxi dancer, or taxi for short , is a paid dance partner in a partner dance. For official purposes in the US, their occupation was referred to as "dancer", when they worked in taxi-dance halls that had all the necessary business permits...
s. One day, Molly rejects the advances of a stranger at the dance hall where she works. When her boyfriend, "Chunky" Dunn (George K. Arthur
George K. Arthur
George K. Arthur was an English actor and producer. He appeared in 59 films between 1919 and 1935. He won an Academy Award for Best Short Film in 1956 for the film The Bespoke Overcoat....
), tries to defend her, he gets knocked down. She is rescued by Chunky's friend, inventor David Page (Malcolm McGregor
Malcolm McGregor
Malcolm McGregor was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 55 films between 1922 and 1936. He was born in Newark, New Jersey and died in Hollywood, California....
), and falls in love with him. Page is oblivious to this and only sees her as a good pal. The more perceptive Chunky becomes increasingly jealous.
Page perfects a device that can open any safe. Chunky tells him that he knows a gang of crooks who would pay a lot of money for it, but Molly tells him that crime does not pay. Page shows his invention to the directors of a bank, Judge Banning being one. They are impressed and purchase it. As he is leaving the meeting, David bumps into Florence. She too falls for him. Soon, they are dating, much to the displeasure of Florence's spinster aunt. However, when Florence meets Molly by accident at David's workshop, she can see that Molly also loves David. She tells David that Molly has a greater claim to him and breaks up with him. When she gets into her limousine however, she finds Molly there waiting for her. Molly urges her to marry David, thinking only of his happiness. To fool David into believing she never loved him, Molly accepts Chunky's standing offer of marriage.
Cast
- Norma ShearerNorma ShearerEdith Norma Shearer was a Canadian-American actress. Shearer was one of the most popular actresses in North America from the mid-1920s through the 1930s...
as Molly Helmer/Florence Banning - Malcolm McGregorMalcolm McGregorMalcolm McGregor was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 55 films between 1922 and 1936. He was born in Newark, New Jersey and died in Hollywood, California....
as David Page - Dale FullerDale Fuller (actor)Dale Fuller was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 67 films between 1915 and 1935.She was born in Santa Ana, California and died in Los Angeles County, California.-Selected filmography:...
as Miss Carr - George K. ArthurGeorge K. ArthurGeorge K. Arthur was an English actor and producer. He appeared in 59 films between 1919 and 1935. He won an Academy Award for Best Short Film in 1956 for the film The Bespoke Overcoat....
as "Chunky" Dunn - Fred EsmeltonFred EsmeltonFred Esmelton , was an American film actor. He appeared in 30 films between years 1916 and 1931.He was born in Melbourne, Victoria and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:...
as Judge Banning - Lew HarveyLew HarveyLew Harvey was an American film actor. He appeared in 145 films between 1918 and 1950.He was born in Wisconsin and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:* The Oklahoma Kid...
as Chris Helmer, Molly's father - Gwen LeeGwen LeeGwen Lee was an American film actress from Hastings, Nebraska. Her given name was Gwendolyn Lepinski.-Acting career:...
as Molly's friend - Betty MorrisseyBetty MorrisseyBetty Morrissey , was an American film actress. She appeared in 12 films between 1923 and 1931. She was born and died in New York....
as Gertie, Molly's friend - Carlton GriffinCarlton GriffinCarlton Griffin , was an American film actor. He appeared in 50 films between 1915 and 1940.He was born in New York, New York and died in Hollywood, California.-Selected filmography:* Girl Shy...
(uncredited bit) - Julian Rivero (uncredited bit)
- Constantine Romanoff (uncredited bit)
- Philip Sleeman (uncredited bit)
- Aryel Houwink as "the Sharpie" (uncredited)
- Joan CrawfordJoan CrawfordJoan Crawford , born Lucille Fay LeSueur, was an American actress in film, television and theatre....
as uncredited body double for Shearer
External links
- Lady of the Night at Silentera.com