Hoodman Blind (1923)
Melodrama | December 1923
Director:
John FordWriter:
Charles KenyonCinematographer:
George SchneidermanProduction Company:
Fox Film Corp.The scenario was based on the 1885 play, Hoodman Blind by Henry Arthur Jones and Wilson Barrett. According to the 1931 Catalogue of the Stories and Plays Owned by Fox Film Corporation, the company acquired worldwide rights to the property and issued its first screen version in 1916 as A Man of Sorrow (see entry). Fox’s plans for a second version were announced in the 7 April 1923 Motion Picture News. The 6 October 1923 issue noted that the title was inspired by a line from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet: “What devil was't that thus has cozened you at hoodman-blind?”
The 21 April 1923 Exhibitors Herald noted that Fox was discontinuing production of all program pictures to focus on a roster of eleven “specials,” including Hoodman Blind. John Russell was credited with writing the scenario in both the 30 June 1923 Motion Picture News and the 14 July 1923 Exhibitors Herald.
The start and completion of principal photography at Fox Studios in Hollywood, CA, were reported by the 1 September 1923 Motion Picture News and the 6 October 1923 Exhibitors Trade Review, respectively.
Hoodman Blind was released on either 16 December 1923 (April 1924 Motion Picture News Booking Guide), or 20 December 1923 (1925 Film Daily Year Book). A Chicago, IL, opening preceded during the week of 2 December 1923 at the Monroe Theatre. Reviews in the 20 January 1924 Film Daily and the 26 January 1924 issues of ...
The scenario was based on the 1885 play, Hoodman Blind by Henry Arthur Jones and Wilson Barrett. According to the 1931 Catalogue of the Stories and Plays Owned by Fox Film Corporation, the company acquired worldwide rights to the property and issued its first screen version in 1916 as A Man of Sorrow (see entry). Fox’s plans for a second version were announced in the 7 April 1923 Motion Picture News. The 6 October 1923 issue noted that the title was inspired by a line from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet: “What devil was't that thus has cozened you at hoodman-blind?”
The 21 April 1923 Exhibitors Herald noted that Fox was discontinuing production of all program pictures to focus on a roster of eleven “specials,” including Hoodman Blind. John Russell was credited with writing the scenario in both the 30 June 1923 Motion Picture News and the 14 July 1923 Exhibitors Herald.
The start and completion of principal photography at Fox Studios in Hollywood, CA, were reported by the 1 September 1923 Motion Picture News and the 6 October 1923 Exhibitors Trade Review, respectively.
Hoodman Blind was released on either 16 December 1923 (April 1924 Motion Picture News Booking Guide), or 20 December 1923 (1925 Film Daily Year Book). A Chicago, IL, opening preceded during the week of 2 December 1923 at the Monroe Theatre. Reviews in the 20 January 1924 Film Daily and the 26 January 1924 issues of Exhibitors Trade Review and Motion Picture News all attributed the scenario to Charles Kenyon.
The first screen version of the play, also titled Hoodman Blind, was released in 1913 by Pilot Films Corp. (see entry).
The National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) included this film on its list of Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films as of February 2021.
In a small seaside town, John Linden leaves his wife and daughter for his lover, Jessie Walton, whom he also leaves after the birth of their daughter. While John finds his fortune in South Africa, both daughters, Nancy and Jessie, are left to fend for themselves following the death of their mothers. Years later, Nancy is married to fisherman Jack Yeulette and Jessie becomes a streetwalker. John’s efforts to share his fortune with Nancy are frustrated by attorney Mark Lezzard, who withholds the money while planning to win her for himself. Lezzard uses Nancy’s lookalike sister to convince Jack that his wife is unfaithful, but the fisherman discovers the truth after rescuing Jessie from a sinking boat. John returns from South Africa and is reunited with his ...
In a small seaside town, John Linden leaves his wife and daughter for his lover, Jessie Walton, whom he also leaves after the birth of their daughter. While John finds his fortune in South Africa, both daughters, Nancy and Jessie, are left to fend for themselves following the death of their mothers. Years later, Nancy is married to fisherman Jack Yeulette and Jessie becomes a streetwalker. John’s efforts to share his fortune with Nancy are frustrated by attorney Mark Lezzard, who withholds the money while planning to win her for himself. Lezzard uses Nancy’s lookalike sister to convince Jack that his wife is unfaithful, but the fisherman discovers the truth after rescuing Jessie from a sinking boat. John returns from South Africa and is reunited with his daughters.
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