The Lotus Eater (film)

The Lotus Eater
1921 lobby card
Directed by	Marshall Neilan
Written by	Marion Fairfax (scenario) George Ade (intertitles)
Story by	Albert Payson Terhune
Produced by	Marshall Neilan John McCormick
Starring	John Barrymore Colleen Moore Anna Q. Nilsson
Cinematography	David Kesson
Edited by	Daniel J. Gray
Production company	Marshall Neilan Productions
Distributed by	Associated First National
Release date	November 21, 1921 (1921-11-21) (U.S.)
Running time	70 mins.
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

The Lotus Eater is a 1921 American silent romantic drama film produced and directed by Marshall Neilan and released through Associated First National. The Lotus Eater starred John Barrymore with Colleen Moore as the female lead. The Lotus Eater is now considered lost.^[1]^[2]^[3]

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Plot

As described in a film magazine,^[4] raised aboard a ship, Jacques Leroi (Barrymore) has never seen a woman until after the death of his father, a man who had been disappointed in love. As the only heir, the will stipulates that he is to remain on board until he reaches 25 years of age. On his 25th birthday, he arrives in New York City to consult his lawyer, and meets the gold-digging Madge Vance (Nilsson), who is being courted by John Carson (Sherry). While off the coast of Florida on his yacht with Miss Vance, Jacques has the captain marry them and they go on a long cruise. Upon returning to New York City Jacques discovers that, according to the will, he will not inherit anything until he is 30 years old if he marries in haste. Madge then leaves him. Jacques becomes despondent, and agrees to attempt to cross the Pacific Ocean in a dirigible balloon with the patentee of a new form of gas. The blimp fails to rise above the air currents and he is forced to land on a small island. There he comes upon the strange occupants of the island, people who have been saved from various shipwrecks. They all wear Greek style clothing, eat at restaurants free of charge, and no one works. He falls in love with the native girl Mavis (Moore), but confesses that he has a wife and must return to the United States. The islanders loan him a boat, and he soon returns to New York City, where he discovers that Madge has become engaged to John Carson. Jacques and John await for Madge to keep an appointment only to receive word that she has eloped with a third man. Jacques is elated and returns to the island for the company of his beautiful native maiden.

Cast

John Barrymore as Jacques Leroi
Colleen Moore as Mavis
Anna Q. Nilsson as Madge Vance
Ida Waterman as Mrs. Hastings Vance
Frank Currier as The Dean
Wesley Barry as Jocko
J. Barney Sherry as John Carson
Dorothy Mackaill

Production

The film was shot in part in Florida, Marshall Neilan and his troupe having chartered a yacht in New York and sailing south.^[5]

Returning to New York after Florida, interiors for The Lotus Eater were shot at the old Biograph studio in the Bronx. Portions of the film were completed at Santa Catalina Island, though Barrymore was not there, as he was busy with the play Clair de Lune which had opened on April 18.^[6]

References

^ Progressive Silent Film List: The Lotus Eater at silentera.com
^ The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog:The Lotus Eater
^ The AFI Catalog of Feature Films:The Lotus Eater(Wayback)
^ "Reviews: The Lotus Eater". Exhibitors Herald. 13 (22). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 50. November 26, 1921.
^ “John Barrymore Visits Everglades Club,” Palm Beach Post (Florida), March 16, 1921, p. 4.
^ John Barrymore, Shakespearean Actor, by Michael A. Morrison, Cambridge University Press, 1999, p. 124.