The World for Sale

The World for Sale is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by J. Stuart Blackton and starring Conway Tearle, Ann Little, W.W. Bitner, Norbert Wicki, Crazy Thunder, and E.L. Fernandez. It is based on the 1916 novel The World For Sale by Gilbert Parker. The film was released on January 21, 1918, by Paramount Pictures.[1][2] It is not known whether the film currently survives,[3] and it may be a lost film.

The World for Sale
Directed byJ. Stuart Blackton
Based onThe World For Sale
by Gilbert Parker
Produced byJ. Stuart Blackton
StarringConway Tearle
Ann Little
W.W. Bitner
Norbert Wicki
Crazy Thunder
E.L. Fernandez
Production
company
J. Stuart Blackton Feature Pictures
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • January 21, 1918 (1918-01-21)
Running time
50 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

Plot

As described in a film magazine,[4] Fleda Druse (Little) and her father Gabriel (Bitner) sever their connections with the wandering Romani and become Christians. In childhood Fieda had been given in marriage to Jethro Fawe (Wicki), and in accordance with the gypsy creed and after a 17-year separation Jethro comes to claim his bride. Fleda loves Ingolby (Tearle), leader of the Canadian settlement, and will not accept the attentions of Jethro. Jethro attempts to take the life of Ingolby, but is repulsed. Marchand (Fernandez), an adventurer, is jealous of Ingolby and attacks him, leading to Ingolby's blindness. Fleda cares for him and, after his sight is restored, they come to an understanding. Jethro has Fleda kidnapped and brought to his tent, but her father comes to her rescue. When Fleda decides to go with Ingolby, Gabriel returns to lead the Romani.

Cast
  • Conway Tearle as Ingolby
  • Ann Little as Fleda Druse
  • W.W. Bitner as Gabriel Druse
  • Norbert Wicki as Jethro Fawe
  • Crazy Thunder as Tekewani
  • E.L. Fernandez as Marchand
  • Joseph Donohue as Jowett
  • Emile La Croix
  • Maude Scofield

Production
Sir Gilbert Parker (left) at Harbourwood with J. Stuart Blackton and his daughter Violet

A number of the exteriors for The World for Sale were filmed at Harbourwood, J. Stuart Blackton's vast estate at Oyster Bay, New York. Sir Gilbert Parker visited for a week during the shooting. "Sir Gilbert, bless him, refused to unbend," wrote Blackton's older daughter Marian Blackton Trimble. "Tall, bearded, reticent, he stood out against the noisy informality of the actors and house guests like a mastiff in a circle of yapping cocker spaniels."[5]

Reception

Like many American films of the time, The World for Sale was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors required a cut, in Reel 2, of the intertitle "I claim my rights. Here, where a Romany and his wife are together.", Reel 3, man throwing a missile into a man's neck, Reel 5, the letter "My father knows you broke promise to me — and my shame" and the intertitle "He spoil may summer song. He treat her like dirt.", Reel 6, muffling young woman, gypsy cutting young woman's throat, and the intertitle "It shall be so — I know women — for an hour you will hate me and then you will begin to love me."[6]

References
  1. "The World for Sale". AFI. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  2. "The World for Sale (1918) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  3. Progressive Silent Film List: The World for Sale at silentera.com
  4. "Reviews: The World for Sale". Exhibitors Herald. 6 (7): 24. February 9, 1918.
  5. Trimble, Marian Blackton (1985). Slide, Anthony (ed.). J. Stuart Blackton: A Personal Biography by His Daughter. Metuchen, New Jersey: Scarecrow Press. p. 87. ISBN 9780810817654.
  6. "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. 6 (7): 29. February 9, 1918.
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