Bonnie May (1920)
Drama | 17 October 1920
Directors:
Ida May Park, Joseph De GrasseWriter:
Bernard McConvilleProducer:
Andrew J. CallaghanProduction Company:
Andrew J. Callaghan Productions, Inc.Although the 28 May 1920 Los Angeles Daily Times claimed that this film was based on an original story, with “continuity and annotations” to be written by Bernard McConville, later sources indicated that McConville’s scenario was based on Louis Dodge’s 1916 novel of the same name. The 4 September 1920 Motion Picture News noted that Dodge had written a letter to express his approval of actress Bessie Love’s casting in the titular role. Aiming to give Love “every possible advantage,” producer Andrew J. Callaghan conducted an “exhaustive search” for a director before hiring husband-and-wife team Joseph De Grasse and Ida May Park, as stated in a 4 September 1920 Moving Picture World item. Love was said to be heading her own production company, at that time, and Bonnie May marked her first film project “under her own management.”
Principal photography, which took place in Los Angeles, CA, likely began in late May or early June 1920, and was completed by late June 1920. In the meantime, Lillian Ducey was brought on to write the titles, according to the 16 June 1920 Los Angeles Daily Times.
An item in the 11 December 1920 Camera listed Tom Ricketts as a cast member.
The National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) included this film on its list of Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films as of October 2019. ...
Although the 28 May 1920 Los Angeles Daily Times claimed that this film was based on an original story, with “continuity and annotations” to be written by Bernard McConville, later sources indicated that McConville’s scenario was based on Louis Dodge’s 1916 novel of the same name. The 4 September 1920 Motion Picture News noted that Dodge had written a letter to express his approval of actress Bessie Love’s casting in the titular role. Aiming to give Love “every possible advantage,” producer Andrew J. Callaghan conducted an “exhaustive search” for a director before hiring husband-and-wife team Joseph De Grasse and Ida May Park, as stated in a 4 September 1920 Moving Picture World item. Love was said to be heading her own production company, at that time, and Bonnie May marked her first film project “under her own management.”
Principal photography, which took place in Los Angeles, CA, likely began in late May or early June 1920, and was completed by late June 1920. In the meantime, Lillian Ducey was brought on to write the titles, according to the 16 June 1920 Los Angeles Daily Times.
An item in the 11 December 1920 Camera listed Tom Ricketts as a cast member.
The National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) included this film on its list of Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films as of October 2019.
Young actress Bonnie May finds work in a private play given at Mrs. Baron's mansion, where she endears herself to all, especially Victor Baron, the invalid son who has written the play. He begs her to stay on to help him write another play, despite the reluctance of his mother, always scheming for a way to replenish the depleted family fortune. Mrs. Baron wants her daughter Flora to marry the disreputable but rich Lionel, rather than John Addie, her daughter's preference; at the same time, the mother schemes to marry Jules Gobert for his money. While Victor and Bonnie May draw material from what is going on around them, and send the play to an agent, the Barons' financial situation worsens. The agent agrees to produce the play using Bonnie May's rewritten last act, depicting a mother and daughter marrying for money with disastrous results. The play also makes Mrs. Baron realize her wrong thinking, and she consents to Flora marrying the man she loves. Victor and Bonnie May also realize that they are in ...
Young actress Bonnie May finds work in a private play given at Mrs. Baron's mansion, where she endears herself to all, especially Victor Baron, the invalid son who has written the play. He begs her to stay on to help him write another play, despite the reluctance of his mother, always scheming for a way to replenish the depleted family fortune. Mrs. Baron wants her daughter Flora to marry the disreputable but rich Lionel, rather than John Addie, her daughter's preference; at the same time, the mother schemes to marry Jules Gobert for his money. While Victor and Bonnie May draw material from what is going on around them, and send the play to an agent, the Barons' financial situation worsens. The agent agrees to produce the play using Bonnie May's rewritten last act, depicting a mother and daughter marrying for money with disastrous results. The play also makes Mrs. Baron realize her wrong thinking, and she consents to Flora marrying the man she loves. Victor and Bonnie May also realize that they are in love.
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