Her Honor the Governor (1926)
Melodrama | 17 July 1926
Director:
Chet WitheyWriters:
Doris Anderson, Hyatt Daab , Weed DickinsonCinematographer:
André BarlatierProduction Company:
R-C Pictures Corp.Film Booking Offices of America (F.B.O.) purchased the screen story by Hyatt Daab and Weed Dickinson, former sports reporters turned F.B.O. press agents, in late 1925 or early January 1926, as indicated in the 9 January 1926 Exhibitors Herald. The story had been written in the spring of 1925, inspired by the election of the first two female governors in U.S. history, Miriam “Ma” Ferguson of Texas and Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming, according to the 20 January 1926 Variety. An item in the 17 January 1926 Los Angeles Times claimed this picture marked the first “sincere and honest attempt to glorify the American woman in politics and to show how great has become her influence in the running of this country” onscreen; however, a review in the 20 July 1926 New York Times pointed out that the film was likely to anger feminists since it made the point that “leadership in politics and the maternal instinct must result in an awful muddle.” A synopsis of the film in the 28 August 1926 Exhibitors Herald claimed that, at the end of the picture, “the Governor decides a woman’s place is in the home.”
An item in the 13 February 1926 Exhibitors Herald stated that the continuity was being written under the supervision of J. G. Hawks. Principal photography was underway at F.B.O. Studios in Hollywood, CA, as of 15 May 1926, according to that day’s Exhibitors Herald.
Prior to theatrical release on 17 July 1926, the film was shown to Governor Ross at her home, as noted in the 17 July 1926 ...
Film Booking Offices of America (F.B.O.) purchased the screen story by Hyatt Daab and Weed Dickinson, former sports reporters turned F.B.O. press agents, in late 1925 or early January 1926, as indicated in the 9 January 1926 Exhibitors Herald. The story had been written in the spring of 1925, inspired by the election of the first two female governors in U.S. history, Miriam “Ma” Ferguson of Texas and Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming, according to the 20 January 1926 Variety. An item in the 17 January 1926 Los Angeles Times claimed this picture marked the first “sincere and honest attempt to glorify the American woman in politics and to show how great has become her influence in the running of this country” onscreen; however, a review in the 20 July 1926 New York Times pointed out that the film was likely to anger feminists since it made the point that “leadership in politics and the maternal instinct must result in an awful muddle.” A synopsis of the film in the 28 August 1926 Exhibitors Herald claimed that, at the end of the picture, “the Governor decides a woman’s place is in the home.”
An item in the 13 February 1926 Exhibitors Herald stated that the continuity was being written under the supervision of J. G. Hawks. Principal photography was underway at F.B.O. Studios in Hollywood, CA, as of 15 May 1926, according to that day’s Exhibitors Herald.
Prior to theatrical release on 17 July 1926, the film was shown to Governor Ross at her home, as noted in the 17 July 1926 Exhibitors Herald. An article in the 24 July 1926 Exhibitors Herald suggested that promotions for the film should target the 20 million female voters in the U.S., through “tie ups with Women’s Leagues of a political trend.” Two weeks later, the 7 August 1926 issue reported that F.B.O. did not plan to release the film in Texas or Wyoming due to “tense political situations” as Ferguson and Ross were currently running for re-election.
According to the Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database, this film is extant.
Bob Fenway, the only son of Governor Adele Fenway, is engaged to Marian Lee, and at a dinner Adele announces her intention of giving them a wedding house. Having refused to support a water power bill endorsed by Jim Dornton, the political boss of the state, the governor is threatened. Through Snipe Collins, Dornton discovers that Adele's deceased husband was previously married and that his first wife claims the divorce was not legal. Confronted with the evidence by Dornton, the governor turns to Richard Palmer for aid, but he is unable to find the divorce papers. Bob goes to the Athletic Club to force Dornton's apology; and Snipe Collins, in a fight with Blake, one of Dornton's men, kills him while he (Collins) is to inform the governor by telephone of Dornton's treachery. Unaware of the act, Bob returns home and is arrested for murder. At the trial Mrs. Fenway makes a plea for his innocence and is unable to pardon him when she is impeached by Dornton's scheming; however, Old Lem, having overheard incriminating evidence, brings it to bear against ...
Bob Fenway, the only son of Governor Adele Fenway, is engaged to Marian Lee, and at a dinner Adele announces her intention of giving them a wedding house. Having refused to support a water power bill endorsed by Jim Dornton, the political boss of the state, the governor is threatened. Through Snipe Collins, Dornton discovers that Adele's deceased husband was previously married and that his first wife claims the divorce was not legal. Confronted with the evidence by Dornton, the governor turns to Richard Palmer for aid, but he is unable to find the divorce papers. Bob goes to the Athletic Club to force Dornton's apology; and Snipe Collins, in a fight with Blake, one of Dornton's men, kills him while he (Collins) is to inform the governor by telephone of Dornton's treachery. Unaware of the act, Bob returns home and is arrested for murder. At the trial Mrs. Fenway makes a plea for his innocence and is unable to pardon him when she is impeached by Dornton's scheming; however, Old Lem, having overheard incriminating evidence, brings it to bear against Collins.
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