Main Cast: Madge Bellamy, John Bowers, Frank Keenan
Release Year: 1922
Country: US
Run Time: 7rl minutes
Plot
This adaptation of the R.D. Blackmore novel won acclaim for Madge Bellamy, and helped bring her stardom. Sir Charles Ensor (Frank Keenan), leader of the Doones, a notorious gang of bandits, adopts and raises Lorna (Bellamy) as his own. Growing up along with her was John Ridd (John Bowers), and he promises to help her if she ever finds herself in trouble. And Lorna winds up needing his help badly after the death of Sir Ensor. Carver Doone (Donald MacDonald) tries to force her into marriage, and she is saved from this fate by Ridd. She then takes her rightful place at court, and Ridd follows. Anarchists attack during the christening of the King's baby, and Ridd is responsible for saving the infant's life. In spite of this heroic act, he returns home. Lorna renounces her station to marry him, but at the wedding, Doone shoots her. Ridd and the townsfolk wipe out the rest of the Doone clan. Ridd returns home and happily discovers that Lorna, who he thought was dead, has actually survived. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
Review
With Madge Bellamy's doll-like beauty and big brown eyes, it's not surprising that this adaptation of the R.D. Blackmore novel made her a star, even though she really didn't have a lot to do (her talents would be better used later on in comedy and in flapper roles). As the heroic farmer John Ridd, John Bowers didn't find his histrionic talents overtaxed, either; this was typical of director (Maurice Tourneur), who was always more interested in atmosphere than he was in giving his stars "great emotional moments." If any actor stands out, it's veteran Frank Keenan, who didn't need a lot of directorial input to create an imposing, yet sympathetic presence in Sir Charles Ensor. Tourneur was the perfect choice to make a period drama like this one -- he vividly re-creates 17th century England in all its rough, rural beauty and royal majesty. Interestingly, trade paper Moving Picture World found two scenes less than credible: the scene in which Ridd rescues Lorna from a forced wedding to Carver Doone (Donald McDonald) and the film's climax, in which the townsfolk finish off the Doones once and for all. These two scenes stand up quite nicely today for an audience used to seeing such "improbable feats" (and more) in other films. This picture was beautifully restored in 2001, and, while it's not one of the great films of the silent era, it's a nice example of Maurice Tourneur's work. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
Norris Johnson - Ruth; May Giraci - Loma. as a Child; Charles Halton - John, as a Child; Donald MacDonald - Carver Doone; Jack McDonald - "The Counsellor"; Charles Hatton
Credit
Milton Menasco - Art Director, Milton Menasco - Costume Designer, Maurice Tourneur - Director, Mari Iijima - Composer (Music Score), Henry Sharp - Cinematographer, Thomas Ince - Producer, Maurice Tourneur - Producer, Milton Menasco - Set Designer, Maurice Tourneur - Screenwriter, Wyndham Gittens - Screenwriter, Katherine S. Reed - Screenwriter, Cecil G. Mumford - Screenwriter, R.D. Blackmore - Book Author
Directed by French director Maurice Tourneur in the United States, the film starred Madge Bellamy and John Bowers. In 2001, a digital restoration of the film was financed by Georgia cinephile Jesse Sharp, and released on DVD by Kino International. Japanese singer/songwriter Mari Iijima composed an all-new musical score for the film.
This is one of many film adaptations of the novel.
