Penny of Top Hill Trail

Penny of Top Hill Trail is a 1921 American silent Western comedy film based on the 1919 novel by Belle Kanaris Maniates.[7][8] It was directed by Arthur Berthelet[1] and stars Bessie Love.[1] The film was produced by Andrew J. Callaghan Productions and distributed by Federated Film Exchanges of America.[1] The film is presumed lost.[9]

Penny of Top Hill Trail
Poster for the Swedish release of the film
Directed byArthur Berthelet
Screenplay by
Based onPenny of Top Hill Trail (novel)
by Belle Kanaris Maniates[2]
Produced byAndrew J. Callaghan[1]
StarringBessie Love
CinematographySam Landers[3]
Production
company
Andrew J. Callaghan Productions
Distributed byFederated Film Exchanges of America, Inc.[1]
Release date
  • May 7, 1921 (1921-05-07) (U.S.)[4][5]
Running time
5 reels[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguagesSilent
English intertitles
Budget$80,000[6]

Plot

When Penny (Love) goes to a ranch, she is mistaken for a thief. She encounters the ranch foreman (Oakman), who tries to reform her. When another girl is revealed to be the real thief, Penny's reputation is cleared, and she reveals her true identity: a film actress on vacation. She and the foreman realize their love for each other, and Penny decides to stay on the ranch with him.[10]

Cast

Production

Exteriors were filmed in Tucson, Arizona.[11]

After its release, producer Andrew J. Callaghan sued Federated Film Exchanges, saying that the distributor had not paid the full amount to distribute this film, The Midlanders, and Bonnie May.[6]

Release

Upon its release, some theaters showed the film with The Hope Diamond Mystery and a Ham and Budd comedy.[12]

Reception

Overall, the film received positive reviews[13] and was successful at the box office.[14] The wardrobe, atypical for Western films,[10] and Love's frequent hairstyle changes distracted some viewers from the plot.[15]

References
  1. "Federated Announces Bessie Love Picture". Moving Picture World. May 7, 1921. p. 79.
  2. Maniates, Belle Kanaris (1919). Penny of Top Hill Trail. Chicago: The Reilly & Lee Co. OCLC 615293843.
  3. Love, Bessie (1977). From Hollywood with Love: An Autobiography of Bessie Love. London: Elm Tree Books. p. 150. OCLC 734075937.
  4. "The Index to the Complete Plan Book". Motion Picture News. May 28, 1921. p. 3350.
  5. "Feature Release Chart". Motion Picture News. November 26, 1921. p. 2846.
  6. "Callaghan Asks Injunction Restraining Federated from Exhibiting Productions". Moving Picture World. August 6, 1921. p. 592.
  7. Goble, Alan, ed. (September 8, 2011). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. p. 304. ISBN 978-3-11-095194-3.
  8. Maniates, Belle Kanaris (1919). Penny of Top Hill Trail. Chicago: The Reilly & Lee Co.
  9. "Penny of Top Hill Trail / Arthur Berthelet [motion picture]". Library of Congress. September 3, 2023.
  10. Sewell, C. S. (May 7, 1921). "Newest Reviews and Comments". Moving Picture World. p. 89.
  11. "'Penny of Tophill Trail' Has Bessie Love as Star". Moving Picture World. December 4, 1920. p. 628.
  12. "The American Theatre". The Afro-American. November 11, 1921. p. 5.
  13. Quotes from various reviews: "Consensus of Published Reviews". Moving Picture World. May 21, 1921. p. 267. This photoplay is a light comedy drama that will please the majority of picture fans. … Bessie Love returns in worth-while, romantic comedy drama. … It is a feature that will appeal to most audiences, especially to Bessie Love followers. … Pleasing offering and delightful star.
  14. "Penny of Top Hill Trail". Exhibitors Trade Review. Vol. 10, no. 23. November 5, 1921. p. 1624. The attendance the latter half of the week on this picture was exceptionally good.
  15. Frank, Betsy (January 1923). "Why Do They Do It". Photoplay. Vol. 23, no. 2. p. 88.
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