Jack Straw (1920 film)
Jack Straw is a 1920 American silent comedy film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. William C. deMille directed the film and Robert Warwick and Carroll McComas star. The film is based on a 1908 stage play by W. Somerset Maugham starring John Drew and a young Mary Boland. Winston Churchill made a cameo appearance in the original film. In 1926 Paramount attempted a remake of this film called The Waiter from the Ritz which was begun and/or completed but never released. James Cruze directed and Raymond Griffith starred; this film, if completed, is now lost. The 1920 film survives at the Library of Congress.[1][2][3]
| Jack Straw | |
|---|---|
 Newspaper ad for the film. | |
| Directed by | William C. deMille |
| Produced by | Adolph Zukor Jesse Lasky |
| Written by | Olga Printzlau (scenario) Elmer Harris (scenario) |
| Based on | Jack Straw by W. Somerset Maugham |
| Starring | Robert Warwick Carroll McComas |
| Cinematography | L. Guy Wilky |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 5 reels; 4,707 feet |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
Plot
Based upon a review of the plot in a film publication,[4] Jack Straw (Warwick) is an iceman who becomes a waiter to be closer to the girl (McComas) he is interested in. Later, to impress her, he impersonates an Archduke from Pomerania. A Count from Pomerania (Brower) who is the ambassador arrives and learns of the long-missing son of royalty. The girl's mother (Ashton) learns of the trick being played by Jack. Just when Jack is exposed as being a fraud, it turns out that he is the genuine article. The girl's mother then gladly announces her daughter's engagement to Jack.
Cast
- Robert Warwick as Jack Straw
- Carroll McComas as Ethel Parker Jennings
- Charles Ogle as Mr. Parker Jennings
- Irene Sullivan as Mrs. Wanley
- Monte du Mont as Ambrose Holland
- Frances Parks as Rose
- Lucien Littlefield as Sherlo
- Robert Brower as Count of Pomerania
- Sylvia Ashton as Mrs. Parker Jennings
unbilled
- Mayme Kelso (unknown role)
References
- Progressive Silent Film List: Jack Straw at silentera.com
- Jack Straw presented as a play on Broadway by Charles Frohman at the Empire Theatre, September 14, 1908 to December 1908; IBDb.com
- The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Jack Straw
- "Jack Straw: Obvious Light Comedy Has Amusing Moments". Motion Picture News. New York City: Motion Picture News, Inc. 21 (16): 3365. April 10, 1920. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
