Coincidence
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Directed byChester Withey
Written byBrian Hooker
Story byHoward E. Morton
StarringRobert Harron
June Walker
Edited byLouis C. Bitzer
Distributed byMetro Pictures Corporation
Release date
  • May 13, 1921 (1921-05-13)
CountryUnited States
LanguagesSilent
English intertitles

Coincidence is a 1921 American silent comedy film starring Robert Harron and June Walker. It was Harron's first starring role after signing a deal with Metro Pictures Corporation, as well as his last film; Harron died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in September 1920 between completion of filming and the release. It was directed by Chester "Chet" Withey and written by Brian Hooker based on a story by Howard E. Morton. The cinematographer was Louis C. Bitzer.

According to film historian Anthony Slide, "With Robert Harron's death, the film industry for the first time had to deal with the release of a film whose star had just died under mysterious circumstances."[1] The film was released in 1921, the year following Harron's death. Instead of promoting Coincidence as Harron's final film, Metro chose not to associate it with Harron's death and had a "low key" release.[1]

Plot

Billy Jenks (Harron) leaves his small town to find success in New York City, but he settles for a department store cashier job. He gets in a heated romance with secretary and aspiring pianist Phoebe Howard (Walker). Their romance leads to both of them being fired, and Billy is later arrested for burglary. Billy tries to borrow money from his wealthy aunt, who has died without his knowledge. Also without his knowledge, she left him $100,000, and her estate lawyers manage to find Billy through a coincidence. The money is then stolen by a con man who also tries to woo Phoebe, but Billy gets both back through a series of coincidences. He and Phoebe then get married.[2]

Cast

  • Bradley Barker as "Handsome Harry" Brent
  • Frank Belcher as John Carter
  • William Frederic as Stephen Fiske
  • Robert Harron as Billy Jenks
  • June Ellen Terry as Dorothy Carter
  • June Walker as Phoebe Howard

Production notes

Coincidence began shooting in Mamaroneck, New York in July 1920.[3] The film is now lost. No prints are known to survive.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Slide, Anthony (2002). Silent Players: A Biographical and Autobiographical Study of 100 Silent Film Actors and Actresses. The University Press of Kentucky. p. 175. ISBN 0-813-12249-X.
  2. ↑ Staff report (December 31, 1921). "Coincidence" with Robert Harron and June Walker filmed at Strand. Berkeley Daily Gazette
  3. ↑ Koszarski, Richard (2008). Hollywood On the Hudson: Film and Television in New York from Griffith to Sarnoff. Rutgers University Press. p. 500. ISBN 978-0-813-54552-3.
  4. ↑ "Coincidence". Silent Film Survival Datbase. Library of Congress. Retrieved March 11, 2021.


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