The Glorious Adventure
Contemporary advertisement for the film in a New York City newspaper
Directed byJ. Stuart Blackton
Written byJ. Stuart Blackton
Felix Orman
Nicholas Musuraca (titles)
Produced byJ. Stuart Blackton
StarringDiana Manners
Gerald Lawrence
Cecil Humphreys
Victor McLaglen
CinematographyWilliam T. Crespinel
Production
company
J. Stuart Blackton Productions
Distributed byStoll Film Studios (UK)
United Artists (US)
Release dates
  • 23 April 1922 (1922-04-23) (U.K.)
  • 27 August 1922 (1922-08-27) (U.S.)
Running time
70 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

The Glorious Adventure is a 1922 British Prizmacolor silent feature film directed by J. Stuart Blackton and written by Felix Orman.[1] The film's sets were designed by Walter Murton.[2][3] It was shot at the Cricklewood Studios of Stoll Pictures in London.[4]

Plot

Hugh Argyle, a lad of about 14 years, leaves home and bids goodbye to his sweetheart, the Lady Beatrice Fair, and promises to treasure the locket she has given him. Years later he returns after being notified that he is heir to vast estates and a title. He sends word of his coming to Lady Beatrice, now a young woman.

On the boat, Walter Roderick plans to have Hugh killed and to take his place himself. His henchman Bulfinch stabs Hugh and throws him overboard. Roderick then betrays his hireling and Bulfinch is taken to England in chains, vowing revenge on Roderick.

The Lady Beatrice is forced to entertain King Charles II of England, who takes a fancy to her. Nell Gwyn, who is one of the guests, is a bit rough and engages in rude pranks whenever the occasion arises.

Roderick, believing Hugh dead, claims his estates, being aided by a rascally solicitor. He bows to Lady Beatrice, who cannot believe that this man is really Hugh. Forced to journey to London, Lady Beatrice stops at an inn where Roderick is staying. Hugh turns up and not only puts up an excellent fight with Roderick, but with half a dozen blades. Lady Beatrice falls in love with him, but, for some unknown reason, Hugh does not make known his identity.

After much plotting and counter-plotting, Hugh is in London to marry Lady Beatrice when he encounters Roderick and is made his prisoner. She, fearing imprisonment for her debt, marries Bulfinch, who is condemned to die on the marrow. The Great Fire of London (1666) breaks out, and Bulfinch escapes and seeks the Lady Beatrice. He carries her all over London, through flames and over debris, looking for a safe place. Hugh appears and they are trapped until Bulfinch saves them, claiming Lady Beatrice as a bride. Just as it appears to be the darkest for the two lovers, Mrs. Bullfinch and several children appear, and he leaves with his family.[5]

Cast

Production background

The film was made entirely in Prizmacolor, and starred Lady Diana Manners, Gerald Lawrence, Cecil Humphreys, and Victor McLaglen. It was released by United Artists. Alma Reville, later married to Alfred Hitchcock, may have co-written the script as well as acting as "script girl".

Neither this film, nor the 1918 film of the same name produced by Samuel Goldwyn, is related to the famous book The Glorious Adventure (1927) by Richard Halliburton.

Preservation status

A copy of The Glorious Adventure exists, with a preview available on YouTube:[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Glorious Adventure (1922)". Archived from the original on 3 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "The Glorious Adventure" – via www.imdb.com.
  3. ↑ "Progressive Silent Film List: The Glorious Adventure". www.silentera.com.
  4. ↑ Slide p. 93.
  5. ↑ "Reviews: The Glorious Adventure". Exhibitors Herald. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. 14 (20): 59. 13 May 1922.
  6. ↑ Silent Hall of Fame (24 February 2017). ""The Glorious Adventure" (1922) rare all-color Classic Silent Swashbuckler". Archived from the original on 15 December 2021 – via YouTube.

Bibliography

  • Anthony Slide. A Special Relationship: Britain Comes to Hollywood and Hollywood Comes to Britain. University Press of Mississippi, 2015.
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