The Lotus Eater (1921)
Romance | November 1921
Director:
Marshall NeilanWriters:
Marion Fairfax, Albert Payson TerhuneProducer:
Marshall NeilanCinematographer:
David KessonEditor:
Daniel J. GrayProduction Designer:
John D. SchulzeProduction Company:
Marshall Neilan ProductionsThis film was based on the short story of the same name by Albert Payson Terhune, published in the September and October 1919 issues of Cosmopolitan magazine. John Barrymore’s casting was reported in the 26 February 1921 Exhibitors Herald, which noted that Barrymore had just signed a deal with F. J. Godsol (referred to erroneously as Frank G. Godsol), who personally financed the production according to the 24 June 1921 Variety.
Filming was underway by mid-March 1921 on location in Miami, FL, as noted in an 18 March 1921 Miami News item, which listed E. J. Bowes as a cast member and L. L. Baxter as business manager for the film company. In Miami, a primitive village set was erected on the shore of the Miami River. Some scenes were shot with a baby elephant named Carl, Jr., according to the 27 March 1921 Miami Herald; the following day’s 28 March 1921 Miami News identified the elephant’s trainer as Walter Wellons. Beach scenes were taken at a beach situated “north of the Miami Beach Club,” as noted in the 28 March 1921 Miami Herald. Scenes were also filmed aboard a yacht identified as Ballemina in the 15 January 1922 Los Angeles Times, a possible misspelling of Ballymena. Shooting in Florida was completed by late March 1921, and the remainder of production was set to take place in New York, as noted in the 29 March 1921 Miami Herald.
On 13 May 1921, Variety indicated that Associated First National Pictures might distribute the picture, although ...
This film was based on the short story of the same name by Albert Payson Terhune, published in the September and October 1919 issues of Cosmopolitan magazine. John Barrymore’s casting was reported in the 26 February 1921 Exhibitors Herald, which noted that Barrymore had just signed a deal with F. J. Godsol (referred to erroneously as Frank G. Godsol), who personally financed the production according to the 24 June 1921 Variety.
Filming was underway by mid-March 1921 on location in Miami, FL, as noted in an 18 March 1921 Miami News item, which listed E. J. Bowes as a cast member and L. L. Baxter as business manager for the film company. In Miami, a primitive village set was erected on the shore of the Miami River. Some scenes were shot with a baby elephant named Carl, Jr., according to the 27 March 1921 Miami Herald; the following day’s 28 March 1921 Miami News identified the elephant’s trainer as Walter Wellons. Beach scenes were taken at a beach situated “north of the Miami Beach Club,” as noted in the 28 March 1921 Miami Herald. Scenes were also filmed aboard a yacht identified as Ballemina in the 15 January 1922 Los Angeles Times, a possible misspelling of Ballymena. Shooting in Florida was completed by late March 1921, and the remainder of production was set to take place in New York, as noted in the 29 March 1921 Miami Herald.
On 13 May 1921, Variety indicated that Associated First National Pictures might distribute the picture, although no firm plans for distribution had been set. George Ade was hired to title the film, and the title was briefly changed to The Hidden Paradise, as noted in the 13 August 1921 Exhibitors Herald, although it reverted to The Lotus Eater prior to the film’s release in November 1921.
A review in the 30 December 1921 Variety described producer-director Marshall Neilan as having a "peculiar oblique sense of satire" and deemed this picture "Neilan's personal back-handed slap at the sloppy South Seas Island romance"; however, it was noted that unsophisticated moviegoers would likely interpret the story as an earnest romance.
The National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) included The Lotus Eater on its list of Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films as of February 2021.
Under the terms of the will of his father, an eccentric millionaire, Jacques Lenoi grows up at sea ignorant of the world and the wiles of the opposite sex. At 25, he falls in love with the first girl he meets, Madge Vance, and their marriage proves a failure when Jacques is unable to acquire his entire inheritance. While accompanying a naval aviator on a dirigible excursion, Jacques finds himself stranded on a small island where the shipwrecked denizens have banded together under the leadership of The Dean. Eventually Jacques finds himself in love with Mavis, an islander, but he dreams of his wife back home. Returning to New York, Jacques finds that his wife, believing him dead, has married a wealthy broker. Asked to choose between the two, she rejects them both and elopes with a count. Jacques returns to Mavis and finds happiness in the simple life of the island ...
Under the terms of the will of his father, an eccentric millionaire, Jacques Lenoi grows up at sea ignorant of the world and the wiles of the opposite sex. At 25, he falls in love with the first girl he meets, Madge Vance, and their marriage proves a failure when Jacques is unable to acquire his entire inheritance. While accompanying a naval aviator on a dirigible excursion, Jacques finds himself stranded on a small island where the shipwrecked denizens have banded together under the leadership of The Dean. Eventually Jacques finds himself in love with Mavis, an islander, but he dreams of his wife back home. Returning to New York, Jacques finds that his wife, believing him dead, has married a wealthy broker. Asked to choose between the two, she rejects them both and elopes with a count. Jacques returns to Mavis and finds happiness in the simple life of the island colony.
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