Souls for Sale
| Souls for Sale | |
|---|---|
 Original theatrical poster |
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| Directed by | Rupert Hughes |
| Produced by | Rupert Hughes |
| Written by | Rupert Hughes (novel and screenplay) |
| Starring | Eleanor Boardman Lew Cody Richard Dix Mae Busch |
| Music by | Marcus Sjöwall (2006) |
| Cinematography | John J. Mescall |
| Distributed by | Goldwyn Pictures |
| Release date(s) | March 27, 1923 (original) January 24, 2006 (restored) |
| Running time | 80 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent film English intertitles |
Souls for Sale (1923) is a silent film written, directed, and produced by Rupert Hughes from his novel of the same name. The film featured Eleanor Boardman in her first leading role, having won a contract with Goldwyn Pictures through their "New Faces of 1921" contest just two years prior.
The film is most notable for its insights into the early film industry. Among the significant cameos in the film are appearances by directors King Vidor, Fred Niblo, Marshall Neilan, Charlie Chaplin, and Erich von Stroheim, as well as a number of actors, producers, and other filmmakers. Souls for Sale includes rare behind-the-scenes footage of Chaplin and von Stroheim directing the films A Woman of Paris and Greed.
Souls for Sale was thought to be lost, until copies began surfacing in various film vaults and private collections in the 1980s and 1990s. In 2005, a partnership between MGM and the cable channel Turner Classic Movies resulted in a restored print of the film. Marcus Sjöwall, winner of TCM's Young Film Composers Competition, developed a new film score for the film. The restored version with the new musical score premiered on the channel on January 24, 2006.
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[edit] Plot
Remember "Mem" Steddon (Eleanor Boardman) marries Owen Scudder (Lew Cody) after a whirlwind courtship. However, on their wedding night, she has a change of heart. When the train taking them to Los Angeles stops for water, she impulsively and secretly gets off in the middle of the desert. Strangely, when Scudder realizes she is gone, he does not have the train stopped.
Mem sets off in search of civilization. Severely dehydrated, she sees an unusual sight: an Arab on a camel. It turns out to be actor Tom Holby (Frank Mayo); she has stumbled upon a film being shot on location. When she recuperates, she is given a role as an extra. Both Holby and director Frank Claymore (Richard Dix) are attracted to her. However, when filming ends, she does not follow the troupe back to Hollywood, but rather gets a job at a desert inn.
Meanwhile, Scudder is recognized and arrested at the train station. He turns out to be a cold-blooded murderer who marries women, insures them, and then kills them for the payoff. He escapes and persuades a gullible Abigail Tweedy (Dale Fuller) to filing off his handcuffs. She becomes his next victim, though fortunately for her, he only robs her of her savings. He leaves the country and targets Englishwoman Lady Jane (Aileen Pringle). To his profound embarrassment, she turns out to be the same sort of crook as he; she and her father "Lord Fryingham" (William Orlamond) rob him, but let him live.
When the inn closes for the season, Mem travels to Hollywood in search of work. Her actress friend from the desert shoot, Leva Lemaire (Barbara La Marr), persuades Claymore to give her a screen test for the only uncast role in his next production: a comic part. Though she fails miserably, Claymore decides to train her anyway. She proves to be talented and steadily gets better and better parts.
Just as Mem is rising to fame, Scudder returns and sneaks into her bedroom. Holby and Claymore have become rivals for Mem's affections. When Scudder sees their warmly-autographed photographs, he flies into a jealous rage. Mem, aware of her husband's past and fearful of a career-ending scandal, offers him money to leave her alone, but he wants her. Scudder leaves only when she threatens to kill herself. Claymore shows up, but when Scudder overhears the director propose marriage to his protegée, Scudder tries to shoot him. Claymore wrestles away his gun, but lets him go at Mem's urging.
When star Robina Teele (Mae Busch) is seriously injured by a falling light, Claymore decides to have Mem take her place. Filming continues on an outdoor circus set, complete with a full-scale Big Top tent. In the climax, a lightning storm sets the huge tent on fire in the middle of filming. (Claymore orders his cameramen to keep shooting.) Scudder, who has snuck into the audience of extras, takes advantage of the panic and confusion to try to kill an unsuspecting Claymore by driving a wind machine (with a deadly propeller) at him. Holby spots Scudder and struggles with him. When Mem stumbles into the machine's path, Scudder rushes to save her and loses his own life. He apologizes before dying, explaining that all his life there was something wrong with him, but he did at least one thing right. Afterward, Mem chooses Claymore over Holby.
[edit] Cast
- Eleanor Boardman as Remember "Mem" Steddon
- Lew Cody as Owen Scudder
- Richard Dix as Frank Claymore
- Mae Busch as Robina Teele
- Frank Mayo as Tom Holby
- Barbara La Marr as Leva Lamaire
- Arthur Hoyt as Jimmy Leland
- David Imboden as Caxton
- Roy Atwell as Arthur Tirrey
- Forrest Robinson as Rev. John Steddon, Mem's father
- Edith Yorke as Mrs. Steddon, Mem's mother
- William Orlamond as Lord Fryingham
- Aileen Pringle as Lady Jane
- Snitz Edwards as Komical Kale - the Klown
- William Haines as Pinkey, the assistant director
- Dale Fuller as Abigail Tweedy
[edit] Cameos
Numerous stars of the silent era have cameos in this film. Erich von Stroheim is shown filming a scene from Greed. Charlie Chaplin guides Boardman in a fake scene from A Woman of Paris, which he did actually direct. The making of two other films is also presented, The Eternal Three and The Famous Mrs. Fair.
[edit] Home media
The film was one of several released by Warner Brothers on DVD in March 2009.
