Her Market Value (1925)
Melodrama | 9 February 1925
Director:
Paul PowellWriters:
Olga Printzlau, Frances NordstromProduction Companies:
Paul Powell Productions, Motion Picture Directors' Holding Corp., Motion Picture Directors' AssociationThe scenario was based on the 1921 play, The Eleventh Commandment by Frances Nordstrom. Two unrelated plays, The Eleventh Commandmnet, produced by Kilroy & Britton, and Her Market Value by Willard Mack were listed, respectively, in the 1 April 1905 and 15 July 1916 editions of the New York Clipper. The 20 July 1924 [Boston, MA] Globe noted that Frances Nordstrom also wrote sketches for her sister, vaudevillian Marie Nordstrom.
The start of principal photography at Grand-Asher Studios in Hollywood, CA, was announced in the 6 August 1924 Variety. Harry Myers was included among the cast. A photograph in the 10 January 1925 Exhibitors Trade Review indicated that location scenes were filmed in the Pacific Ocean aboard the Nancy.
Her Market Value was the only production by the Motion Picture Directors' Holding Corp., an affiliate of the Motion Picture Directors' Association (MPDA). Years later, the 20 October 1931 Film Daily revealed that it was also the first for Samuel Bischoff, a former accountant for Grand-Asher Distributing Corp. He was ultimately promoted to “general production manager” and ordered to begin work on the picture, with a promise from his employer, Samuel V. Grand, that the necessary funds would soon be available. Some sources credit director Paul Powell as the film’s producer.
Production was completed on 25 August 1924, after which the 5 September 1924, the Los Angeles Times reported that twelve claims were filed with the California Department of Labor, demanding a total of $1,974.48 in unpaid ...
The scenario was based on the 1921 play, The Eleventh Commandment by Frances Nordstrom. Two unrelated plays, The Eleventh Commandmnet, produced by Kilroy & Britton, and Her Market Value by Willard Mack were listed, respectively, in the 1 April 1905 and 15 July 1916 editions of the New York Clipper. The 20 July 1924 [Boston, MA] Globe noted that Frances Nordstrom also wrote sketches for her sister, vaudevillian Marie Nordstrom.
The start of principal photography at Grand-Asher Studios in Hollywood, CA, was announced in the 6 August 1924 Variety. Harry Myers was included among the cast. A photograph in the 10 January 1925 Exhibitors Trade Review indicated that location scenes were filmed in the Pacific Ocean aboard the Nancy.
Her Market Value was the only production by the Motion Picture Directors' Holding Corp., an affiliate of the Motion Picture Directors' Association (MPDA). Years later, the 20 October 1931 Film Daily revealed that it was also the first for Samuel Bischoff, a former accountant for Grand-Asher Distributing Corp. He was ultimately promoted to “general production manager” and ordered to begin work on the picture, with a promise from his employer, Samuel V. Grand, that the necessary funds would soon be available. Some sources credit director Paul Powell as the film’s producer.
Production was completed on 25 August 1924, after which the 5 September 1924, the Los Angeles Times reported that twelve claims were filed with the California Department of Labor, demanding a total of $1,974.48 in unpaid wages. No salaries had been paid to the cast and crew, and payment had been stopped on whatever checks they did receive. The Department of Labor ordered Grand-Asher and MPDA to compensate the claimants, and although their partnership had since been dissolved, both parties agreed to comply.
The 7 September 1924 [Forth Worth, TX] Record-Telegram reported that editing and titling of the picture was in progress. However, Roy Clements, president of the Motion Picture Directors' Holding Corp., claimed that his organization never authorized the production because Grand-Asher had not satisfied the conditions of their contract. Meanwhile, Bischoff admitted that Grand-Asher would be “forced out of business” if he failed to deliver the completed film to their New York City offices within the next week.
Ten days later, the 17 September Variety announced that the feature had been sold for $63,000 to Producers Distributing Corp., headed by film pioneer W. W. Hodkinson. Paul Powell was appointed trustee of proceeds from the sale, enabling him to settle the estimated $61,000 production debt. The 28 October 1924 Los Angeles Times and 5 November 1924 Variety noted that approximately one third of that amount was owed to cast members Agnes Ayres, Anders Randolf, Taylor Holmes, and Edward Earle, with the rest distributed to the nearly 200 other members of the company. Powell received only enough to cover his personal expenses while shooting the picture. As stated in the 11 October 1924 Los Angeles Evening Post-Record, Powell was rewarded for his efforts by Producers Distributing Corp., which agreed to buy the picture on the condition that he direct three more Agnes Ayres starring vehicles. An item in the 23 January 1925 [Los Angeles] Daily News claimed that the film was “being prepared by Paramount for early release.” This was likely an error, although Ayres had been under contract to the studio.
Her Market Value was released on 9 February 1925, followed by a New York City opening at the Rialto Theatre during the week of 15 February 1925.
The National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) included this film on its list of Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films as of February 2021.
Harvey Dumont loses his entire fortune in the stock market and commits suicide, leaving his wife, Nancy, "in trust" to three of his friends, Cyrus Hamilton, Courtney Brooks, and Anthony Davis. The three men meet to decide the fate of the penniless Nancy, and each makes a generous contribution to her welfare by buying shares in "the Dumont stock." Nancy uses the $40,000 she receives to pay off her husband's debts, then takes a job as Cyrus's secretary. However, he has a more-than-friendly interest in the beautiful young woman and seeks to buy out his partners. Cyrus discovers Nancy and Courtney in a compromising situation and forces the latter to part with his share. He then attempts to bankrupt Anthony by giving him bad information through a crooked broker. Anthony discovers the plot and makes a fortune despite this trickery. Courtney conspires with Bernice Hamilton to place Cyrus in a compromising situation with the innocent Nancy, but Anthony thwarts the plan. After receiving a minor gunshot wound from Anthony, Cyrus reconciles with his wife. Anthony buys out his partner’s shares and confesses his love for ...
Harvey Dumont loses his entire fortune in the stock market and commits suicide, leaving his wife, Nancy, "in trust" to three of his friends, Cyrus Hamilton, Courtney Brooks, and Anthony Davis. The three men meet to decide the fate of the penniless Nancy, and each makes a generous contribution to her welfare by buying shares in "the Dumont stock." Nancy uses the $40,000 she receives to pay off her husband's debts, then takes a job as Cyrus's secretary. However, he has a more-than-friendly interest in the beautiful young woman and seeks to buy out his partners. Cyrus discovers Nancy and Courtney in a compromising situation and forces the latter to part with his share. He then attempts to bankrupt Anthony by giving him bad information through a crooked broker. Anthony discovers the plot and makes a fortune despite this trickery. Courtney conspires with Bernice Hamilton to place Cyrus in a compromising situation with the innocent Nancy, but Anthony thwarts the plan. After receiving a minor gunshot wound from Anthony, Cyrus reconciles with his wife. Anthony buys out his partner’s shares and confesses his love for Nancy.
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