The Cruise of the Make-Believes

The Cruise of the Make-Believes is a lost[1] 1918 American silent dramatic feature film starring Lila Lee in her first motion picture. It was directed by George Melford and is based on a 1907 novel by Tom Gallon. Famous Players-Lasky produced and Paramount Pictures released.[2]

The Cruise of the Make-Believes
Still with Lee and Aitken
Directed byGeorge Melford
Produced byAdolph Zukor
Jesse Lasky
Written byEdith Kennedy (scenario)
Based onThe Cruise of the Make-Believes
by Tom Gallon
StarringLila Lee
Harrison Ford
CinematographyPaul Perry
Production
company
Famous Players-Lasky Corporation
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
September 1, 1918
Running time
5 reels
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

The film was released at the height of the 1918 flu pandemic.

Plot

As described in a film magazine,[3] Bessie Meggison (Lee) lives in the slums with her drunken father Daniel Meggison (Hacket) and presides over a boarding house. Gilbert Byfield, a wealthy youth who is writing a book, lives nearby in a cheap room. He becomes acquainted with Bessie and together they sail on many imaginary voyages on an improvised yacht in her back yard. Gilbert gives her father permission to take Bessie to his estate in the country for a month's vacation. Daniel Meggison invites his slum friends and drinks to his heart's content while Bessie entertains dozens of urchins. Gilbert returns and learns that Meggison has told Bessie that the estate belongs to him. Gilbert is also confronted by his fiance, and Bessie realizes that all of her family wealth is a sham. Heartbroken, she returns to her slum home. Gilbert finds her on the make believe ship and promises her that her dream of riches will come true.

Cast
  • Lila Lee as Bessie Meggison
  • Harrison Ford as Gilbert Byfield
  • Raymond Hackett as Daniel Meggison
  • William Brunton as Aubrey Meggison
  • J. Parks Jones as Jordan Tant (credited as Park Jones)
  • Spottiswoode Aitken as Simon Quarle
  • Bud Duncan as Uncle Ed
  • Eunice Murdock Moore as Aunt Julia (credited as Eunice Moore)
  • Mayme Kelso as Mrs. Ewart Crane (credited as Maym Kelso)
  • Nina Byron as Enid Crane
  • William McLaughlin as Saloon Proprietor
  • Jane Wolfe as Byfield's Landlady (credited as Jane Wolff)
  • John McKinnon as Butler of Dream Valley

See also

References
  1. The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Cruise of the Make-Believes
  2. The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: The Cruise of the Make-Believes(Wayback)
  3. "Reviews: The Cruise of the Make-Believes". Exhibitors Herald. 7 (13): 35. September 21, 1918.


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