The Wolf Man (1924 film)
Encyclopedia
The Wolf Man is a 1924
silent film
starring John Gilbert
, Norma Shearer
, and Eugene Pallette
. The movie was written by Fanny Hatton, Frederic Hatton, and Reed Heustis, and directed by Edmund Mortimer
.
Contrary to the film's title, The Wolf Man is a melodrama
and not a horror film.
This Fox film paired John Gilbert and Norma Shearer before their signing contracts with the newly formed MGM. It is a lost
film today.
In a saloon he gets in a fight and kidnaps Elizabeth Gordon (Norma Shearer), a respectable young girl who has wandered off from her father during a trip through the woods. Stanley takes Elizabeth to his shack, where he tries to force himself on her. But his pursuers are closing in so he leaps in a canoe for a wild ride down the rapids. This sobers him up and, mortified by his actions, he apologizes profusely to Elizabeth. When she sees the real Stanley, she falls in love with him, and later on he receives word that Beatrice's brother was never killed.
1924 in film
-Events:* Entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer Pictures to create Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer...
silent film
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 John Gilbert
John Gilbert (actor)
John Gilbert was an American actor and a major star of the silent film era.Known as "the great lover," he rivaled even Rudolph Valentino as a box office draw...
, 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...
, and Eugene Pallette
Eugene Pallette
Eugene William Pallette was an American actor. He appeared in over 240 silent era and sound era motion pictures between 1913 and 1946....
. The movie was written by Fanny Hatton, Frederic Hatton, and Reed Heustis, and directed by Edmund Mortimer
Edmund Mortimer (actor)
Edmund Mortimer was an American actor and film director. He appeared in 251 films between 1913 and 1945. He also directed 23 films between 1918 and 1928....
.
Contrary to the film's title, The Wolf Man is a melodrama
Melodrama
The term melodrama refers to a dramatic work that exaggerates plot and characters in order to appeal to the emotions. It may also refer to the genre which includes such works, or to language, behavior, or events which resemble them...
and not a horror film.
This Fox film paired John Gilbert and Norma Shearer before their signing contracts with the newly formed MGM. It is a lost
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...
film today.
Plot
Gerald Stanley (John Gilbert) is an English gentleman who is engaged to Beatrice Joyce (Alma Frances). But Stanley's personality changes whenever he drinks, and his brother (who also loves Beatrice) uses this to his advantage. After Stanley's latest blackout, his brother informs him that he (Stanley) killed Beatrice's brother. The horrified Stanley flees from England and goes to live in Quebec. The now sober Stanley stays away from liquor, until he receives word that Beatrice has married his brother. The news sends him on a drinking spree and once again he turns beastly.In a saloon he gets in a fight and kidnaps Elizabeth Gordon (Norma Shearer), a respectable young girl who has wandered off from her father during a trip through the woods. Stanley takes Elizabeth to his shack, where he tries to force himself on her. But his pursuers are closing in so he leaps in a canoe for a wild ride down the rapids. This sobers him up and, mortified by his actions, he apologizes profusely to Elizabeth. When she sees the real Stanley, she falls in love with him, and later on he receives word that Beatrice's brother was never killed.
Cast
- John GilbertJohn Gilbert (actor)John Gilbert was an American actor and a major star of the silent film era.Known as "the great lover," he rivaled even Rudolph Valentino as a box office draw...
as Gerald Stanley - 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 Elizabeth Gordon - Alma Francis as Beatrice Joyce
- George BarraudGeorge Barraud-Selected filmography:* The Wolf Man * Bellamy Trial * Woman to Woman * Peacock Alley * The Return of Raffles * Great Expectations * Charlie Chan in London * Mystery Woman...
as Lord Rothstein - Eugene PalletteEugene PalletteEugene William Pallette was an American actor. He appeared in over 240 silent era and sound era motion pictures between 1913 and 1946....
as Pierre - Edgar Norton as Sir Reginald Stackpoole
- Thomas R. Mills as Caulkins
- Max Montisole as Phil Joyce
- Charles WellesleyCharles WellesleyCharles Wellesley was an Irish-born American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 88 films between 1913 and 1928.He was born in Dublin and died in Amityville, New York.- Selected filmography :...
as Sam Gordon - Richard Blaydon as Lt. Esmond
- D.R.O. Hatswell as Lord St. Cleve
- Mary Warren as English barmaid
- Ebba Mona as Ballet girl