Gentle Julia (1923 film)

Gentle Julia is a 1923 American silent romantic drama film based on the popular novel Gentle Julia by Booth Tarkington. Directed by Rowland V. Lee, the film starred Bessie Love. It was produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation, and is considered a lost film.[3]

For the novel by Booth Tarkington, see Gentle Julia (novel). For the later film, see Gentle Julia (1936 film).

Gentle Julia
Lobby card
Directed byRowland V. Lee
Written byDonald W. Lee (adaptation, screenplay)
Based onGentle Julia (novel)
by Booth Tarkington
Produced byWilliam Fox
StarringBessie Love
CinematographyG.O. Post
Distributed byFox Film Corporation
Release date
  • December 24, 1923 (1923-12-24) (U.S.)
Running time
60 minutes; 6 reels[1] (5,837 feet)[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

Plot

Julia Atwater (Love) is the most popular girl in her Midwestern small town. She has many suitors, but she chooses an older man, Mr. Crum (Elliott). When he takes her back to his home in Chicago, she finds out he is married. She leaves him, returning to neighbor Noble Dill (Goodwin).[3][4][5][6][7][8]

Cast
  • Bessie Love as Julia Atwater
  • Harold Goodwin as Noble Dill
  • Frank Elliott as Randolph Crum
  • Charles K. French as John Atwater
  • Clyde Benson as George Atwater
  • Harry Dunkinson as Uncle Joe Atwater
  • Jack Rollens as Newland Sanders
  • Frances Miller as Mrs. Joe Atwater (credited as Frances Grant)
  • William Irving as George Plum
  • Agnes Aker as Mrs. George Atwater
  • William Berke as Herbert Atwater (credited as William Lester)
  • Gypsy Norman as Mrs. Herbert Atwater
  • Mary Arthur as Florence Atwater
  • Richard Billings as Herbert Atwater Jr
  • Frank Norcross as Uncle Charlie Patterson
  • Emma Tansey as Aunt Fannie Patterson
  • Harvey Clark as Ridgely
  • Mde. Sul-Te-Wan as Kitty Silver
  • Frank Farrington as Dill
  • Virginia Johnson as Mrs. Dill
  • Leslie Fenton (uncredited)[9]

Production

Love was cast because she was "the last girl in Hollywood with long hair", although she was unaware of this and got an "Eton crop" haircut before filming commenced.[10]

Reception

The film was well received.[11][12][13] Love's performance drew mixed reviews, with some giving her praise, and others deeming her as miscast.[1][11] Arthur's performance as the young niece drew rave reviews.[7]

See also

References
  1. "What the Picture Did for Me". Exhibitors Herald. Vol. 18, no. 13. March 22, 1924. p. 68.
  2. "Current and Advance Film Releases". The Moving Picture World. Vol. 66, no. 4. January 26, 1924. p. 326.
  3. Munden, Kenneth W., ed. (1971). The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States: Feature Films 1921–1930. New York: R.R. Bowker Company. p. 284. OCLC 664500075.
  4. "Gentle Julia". The Ottawa Journal. Ottawa, Canada. April 12, 1924. p. 19.
  5. "'Gentle Julia' at Princess". Reading Eagle. December 17, 1924.
  6. Kelly, Mary (January 19, 1924). "Newest Reviews and Comments". Moving Picture World. pp. 217–8.
  7. Reid, Laurence (January 19, 1924). "Pre-Release Reviews of Features". Motion Picture News. Vol. 29, no. 3. p. 276.
  8. "Gentle Julia". Screen Opinions. Vol. 13, no. 11. February 1, 1924. p. 172.
  9. "Bessie Love in Title Role". Film Daily. September 24, 1923. p. 4 col. 2.
  10. Love, Bessie (December 5, 1969). "Grease Paint and the Rent". The Christian Science Monitor. p. 12.
  11. Brumell, Marguerite A. (1924). "Box Office Reviews". Exhibitors Trade Review. p. 22.
  12. "Reviews of the Newest Features". The Film Daily. Vol. 27, no. 4. January 6, 1924. p. 7.
  13. "Spirit of Tarkington's Novel Well Preserved". Exhibitors Herald. Vol. 18, no. 1. December 29, 1923. p. 142.
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