Acquitted (1916 film)

Acquitted
Newspaper advertisement
Directed by	Paul Powell^[1]
Written by	Roy Somerville^[1]^[2] Tod Browning (uncredited)
Based on	"Acquitted"^[1]^[3]^[4] by Mary Roberts Rinehart
Starring	Wilfred Lucas Mary Alden Bessie Love^[5]
Cinematography	John Leezer^[6]
Production company	Fine Arts Film Company
Distributed by	Triangle Film Corporation
Release date	February 6, 1916 (1916-02-06) (U.S.)
Running time	5 reels
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

Acquitted is a 1916 American silent mystery film^[2] produced by the Fine Arts Film Company and distributed by Triangle Film Corporation. Paul Powell directed a screenplay by Roy Somerville based on a 1907 short story by Mary Roberts Rinehart.^[1]^[3] Tod Browning served as an uncredited writer.^{[citation needed]}

This film marks the first starring role of Wilfred Lucas,^[7] and may mark Bessie Love's film debut. The film is presumed lost, possibly due to the 1965 MGM vault fire.^[8]^[9]

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Plot

The police accuse innocent bookkeeper John Carter (Lucas) of having committed the murder of a cashier. A reporter, who is in love with Carter's daughter (Love), proves that Carter is innocent. After a time, Carter's daughter convinces his former employer to hire him back.^[2]^[10]^[11]

Cast

Wilfred Lucas as John Carter
Mary Alden as Mrs. Carter
Bessie Love as Helen Carter
Carmen De Rue as Nellie Carter
Elmer Clifton as Ned Fowler
Sam de Grasse as Ira Wolcott
W.J. Freemont as the night watchman
Spottiswoode Aitken as Charles Ryder
James O'Shea as the police chief
F.A. Turner as the police captain

Production

Bessie Love wore some of her own clothing as her wardrobe in the film.^[12]

Release and reception

The film was heavily censored in Ohio, with scenes of violence and drug sales and use removed before distribution.^[13]

The film was well-reviewed.^[14]^[15] Wilfred Lucas received positive reviews for his performance in the lead role, as did Powell's direction.^[14]^[16]^[17] Bessie Love was positively likened to her contemporaries Mary Pickford and Mae Marsh.^[18]

References

Citations

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Purely Personal Mention". The Photoplayers Weekly. November 27, 1915. p. 3.
^ ^a ^b ^c Wlaschin, Ken (April 28, 2009). Silent Mystery and Detective Movies: A Comprehensive Filmography. p. 4. ISBN 978-0-7864-4350-5.
^ ^a ^b Goble, Alan, ed. (September 8, 2011). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. p. 662. ISBN 978-3-11-095194-3.
^ Rinehart, Mary Roberts (February 1907). "Acquitted". Pearson's Magazine. Vol. 17, no. 2. p. 225.
^ "Purely Personal Mention". The Photoplayers Weekly. January 29, 1916. p. 4.
^ Love 1977, p. 148
^ "Lucas Starred by Griffith". Motography. Vol. 15, no. 9. February 26, 1916. p. 450.
^ Bennett, Carl (August 19, 2009). "Progressive Silent Film List: Acquitted". Silent Era.
^ The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1911–20 by The American Film Institute, c.1988
^ "Wilfred Lucas Now a Star". Motography. Vol. 15, no. 3. January 15, 1916. p. 110.
^ Johnson, Julian (April 1916). "The Shadow Stage". Photoplay Magazine. p. 100.
^ Love 1977, pp. 80–82
^ Platz, Paul Alwyn (March 4, 1916). "Ohio Censor Scissors Snip Without Rhyme or Reason". Motion Picture News. Vol. 13, no. 9. p. 1304.
^ ^a ^b "The Current Triangle Bill". Motography. Vol. 15, no. 7. February 12, 1916. p. 368.
^ "Film Reviews". Variety. Vol. 41, no. 9. January 28, 1916. p. 22.
^ "Messrs. Wilfred Lucas". Photoplay Magazine. Vol. 10, no. 1. June 1916. pp. 97–99.
^ Julian, Johnson (April 1916). "The Shadow Stage". Photoplay Magazine. p. 104.
^ York, Cal (April 1916). "Plays and Players". Photoplay Magazine. p. 110.