The Jailbird
The Jailbird is a 1920 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Lloyd Ingraham and written by Julien Josephson. The film stars Douglas MacLean, Doris May, Louis Morrison, William Courtright, Wilbur Higby, and Otto Hoffman. The film was released on October 10, 1920, by Paramount Pictures.[1][2]
The Jailbird | |
---|---|
Directed by | Lloyd Ingraham |
Screenplay by | Julien Josephson |
Produced by | Thomas H. Ince |
Starring | Douglas MacLean Doris May Louis Morrison William Courtright Wilbur Higby Otto Hoffman |
Cinematography | Bert Cann |
Edited by | Harry Marker |
Production company | Thomas H. Ince Corporation |
Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 50 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
Plot
As described in a film magazine,[3] Shakespeare Clancy (MacLean), adroit in the art of opening safes, escapes from prison when his term still has six months to run and returns with 'Skeeter' Burns (Morrison), a friend who has just finished his sentence, to Dodson, Kansas, where Shakespeare has inherited a run-down newspaper and some worthless real estate. His first issue of the newspaper antagonizes the people of the town, and he promotes an oil stock scheme to get their money, setting up a well on his property. After he has collected money from practically all of the town residents, he prepares for his getaway only to find that Alice Whitney (May), a young woman he has come to love, owns two thousand dollars of the worthless stock. An unexpected gusher from the well on his property paves the way for a happy ending, with Shakespeare returning to prison to complete his interrupted sentence.
Cast
- Douglas MacLean as Shakespeare Clancy
- Doris May as Alice Whitney
- Louis Morrison as 'Skeeter' Burns
- William Courtright as Noah Gibbs
- Wilbur Higby as Joel Harvey
- Otto Hoffman as Elkemah Pardee
- Monte Collins as Asa Grider
- Bert Woodruff as Grandpa Binney
- Edith Yorke as Mrs. Whitney
- Joseph Hazelton as Alva Finch
Preservation status
A copy of The Jailbird is preserved in the Library of Congress collection.[4][5][6]
References
- Hal Erickson (2015). "The-Jailbird - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - NYTimes.com". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on January 20, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
- "The Jailbird". afi.com. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
- "Reviews: The Jailbird". Exhibitors Herald. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. 11 (12): 89. September 18, 1920.
- Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress, p. 92, c.1978 by the American Film Institute
- The Library of Congress/FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Jailbird
- Progressive Silent Film List: The Jailbird at silentera.com