Efficiency Edgar's Courtship (1917)

68 mins | Comedy | 3 September 1917

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HISTORY

On 2 June 1917, a Moving Picture World article announced that stage actor Taylor Holmes had contracted with the Essanay Film Mfg. Co. to perform for the first time in feature films, and production was scheduled to begin immediately on Efficiency Edgar's Courtship, an adaptation of a short story of the same name by Clarence Budington Kelland that was published in the 1 July 1916 Saturday Evening Post. Holmes was slated to become a Essanay star, and several other productions were already being “scenario-ized” for him to follow Efficiency Edgar's Courtship. Taylor previously appeared in a one-reel picture for Bioscope. Filming on Efficiency Edgar's Courtship was underway as of 16 June 1917, as noted in a Moving Picture World news item published that day. The casting of Virginia Valli, who was personally selected by Taylor, was announced in the 11 August 1917 Exhibitors Herald, which also published a screen time of sixty-eight minutes.
       The 1 September 1917 Moving Picture World contained the following synopsis:
       "Efficiency wins success in business; why not in love? Edgar Bumpus, a rising young man, applies this reasoning to his courtship of Mary Pierce. He first eliminates Wimple, his closest competitor, who plays a guitar, by learning to play a saxophone, which makes louder noise, and by sending Mary flowers and candy each time Wimple calls on her. The plan works O.K., until the saxophone disturbs Mr. Pierce's slumbers. He and Edgar clash and the latter is forbidden to visit Mary any more. Edgar employs a clipping bureau to send news items to Mr. Pierce which tells of the ...

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On 2 June 1917, a Moving Picture World article announced that stage actor Taylor Holmes had contracted with the Essanay Film Mfg. Co. to perform for the first time in feature films, and production was scheduled to begin immediately on Efficiency Edgar's Courtship, an adaptation of a short story of the same name by Clarence Budington Kelland that was published in the 1 July 1916 Saturday Evening Post. Holmes was slated to become a Essanay star, and several other productions were already being “scenario-ized” for him to follow Efficiency Edgar's Courtship. Taylor previously appeared in a one-reel picture for Bioscope. Filming on Efficiency Edgar's Courtship was underway as of 16 June 1917, as noted in a Moving Picture World news item published that day. The casting of Virginia Valli, who was personally selected by Taylor, was announced in the 11 August 1917 Exhibitors Herald, which also published a screen time of sixty-eight minutes.
       The 1 September 1917 Moving Picture World contained the following synopsis:
       "Efficiency wins success in business; why not in love? Edgar Bumpus, a rising young man, applies this reasoning to his courtship of Mary Pierce. He first eliminates Wimple, his closest competitor, who plays a guitar, by learning to play a saxophone, which makes louder noise, and by sending Mary flowers and candy each time Wimple calls on her. The plan works O.K., until the saxophone disturbs Mr. Pierce's slumbers. He and Edgar clash and the latter is forbidden to visit Mary any more. Edgar employs a clipping bureau to send news items to Mr. Pierce which tells of the troubles young girls get into when their fathers refuse to let them have beaux. One eloped with a milkman; another disappeared. This has no effect upon Mr. Pierce, however, except to make him hate Edgar more. However, the youth's persistence finally wins Mary's love. Then Edgar plays his trump card. He gets Mary to sign a legal agreement to forfeit $10,000 to him, unless she marries him. The two then confront Mr. Pierce with this document. Rather than lose the money, he consents to lose his daughter, the only stipulation being that Edgar will throw away his saxophone. Thus efficiency triumphs.”
       The 8 September 1917 Exhibitors Herald noted that "Taylor Holmes is shown addressing the audience and then throughout he is telling the story direct instead of its being told, as most screen stories are." It added that "the Chicago K-E-S-E exchange arranged a special showing of the picture, to which representatives of the various branches of the trade were invited. A special musical score has been written for the play, and this music, rendered by an eight-piece orchestra, fits the action of the picture very well. Mr. Holmes appeared in person and was greeted with applause. At the close of the picture the guests were enthusiastic in their praise of Mr. Holmes' characterization."
       The film was re-released by Victor Kremer Film Features in 1920.
       The National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) included this film on its list of Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films as of February 2021.

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SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Exhibitors Herald
11 Aug 1917
p. 20
Exhibitors Herald
25 Aug 1917
p. 31
Exhibitors Herald
8 Sep 1917
p. 30
Motog
8 Sep 1917
p. 532
Motion Picture News
21 Jul 1917
p. 380
Motion Picture News
15 Sep 1917
p. 1811
Motion Picture News
22 Sep 1917
p. 2037
Moving Picture World
2 Jun 1917
p. 1445
Moving Picture World
16 Jun 1917
p. 1805
Moving Picture World
1 Sep 1917
p. 1339, 1384, 1428
NYDM
15 Sep 1917
p. 19
Variety
7 Sep 1917
p. 32
Wid's
13 Sep 1917
p. 592
CAST
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
PRODUCTION COMPANY
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTOR
PRODUCER
WRITER
SOURCES
LITERARY
Based on the short story "Efficiency Edgar's Courtship" by Clarence Budington Kelland in The Saturday Evening Post (1 Jul 1916).
LITERARY SOURCE AUTHOR
DETAILS
Release Date:
3 September 1917
Production Date:
began June 1917
Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
Essanay Film Mfg. Co.
25 August 1917
LP11302
Physical Properties:
Silent
Black and White
Duration(in mins):
68
Length(in reels):
5
Country:
United States
Language:
English
SYNOPSIS

Edgar Bumpus applies the methods of efficiency that he found so valuable in his business career to his campaign of winning the heart of Mary Pierce. Deciding that the "follow up" system works best, Edgar sends candy on Tuesdays and Fridays and flowers on all the other days of the week. Wimple, Edgar's rival for Mary's affections, plays the guitar, and so Edgar decides to learn the saxophone, much to the annoyance of Mr. Pierce who forbids the incipient saxophonist to visit his daughter. Edgar's persistence finally wins, however, and he succeeds in having Mary sign an agreement to forfeit $10,000 to him unless she marries him. Confronted with the document, Mr. Pierce consents to the marriage on the condition that Edgar throw away his ...

More Less

Edgar Bumpus applies the methods of efficiency that he found so valuable in his business career to his campaign of winning the heart of Mary Pierce. Deciding that the "follow up" system works best, Edgar sends candy on Tuesdays and Fridays and flowers on all the other days of the week. Wimple, Edgar's rival for Mary's affections, plays the guitar, and so Edgar decides to learn the saxophone, much to the annoyance of Mr. Pierce who forbids the incipient saxophonist to visit his daughter. Edgar's persistence finally wins, however, and he succeeds in having Mary sign an agreement to forfeit $10,000 to him unless she marries him. Confronted with the document, Mr. Pierce consents to the marriage on the condition that Edgar throw away his saxophone.

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GENRE
Genre:


Subject

Subject (Minor):
Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

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