It (1927)
72 mins | Comedy-drama | 5 February 1927
Director:
Clarence BadgerWriters:
Hope Loring, Louis D. Lighton, Elinor GlynCinematographer:
H. Kinley MartinProduction Company:
Paramount Famous Lasky Corp.The 21 August 1926 Motion Picture News announced that Paramount Famous Lasky Corp. had signed a deal with author Elinor Glyn to produce her forthcoming film adaptations, the making of which Glyn would supervise. The first production on the slate was It, set to star Clara Bow in her first leading role. John Waters was named as the director, but he did not remain with the project.
According to the same day’s Moving Picture World, Glyn’s It “was especially written for Hearst Newspapers to be published in serial form” preceding its publication as a novel. The 28 January 1927 Motion Picture News clarified that the story first appeared in the February 1927 issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine.
Principal photography began on 1 October 1926, under the direction of Clarence Badger, as stated in the 3 October 1926 FD. Badger became ill during filming, and Josef von Sternberg directed some scenes during his absence.
On 30 November 1926, FD announced that filming had completed. The 11 December 1926 Moving Picture World reported that the final scenes filmed were of the “unusual amusement park sequence.”
According to the January 1927 Motion Picture Magazine, Glyn appeared onscreen in the picture. The 9 February 1927 Variety review confirmed that Glyn made her first credited screen appearance in It, noting that she played herself in a restaurant sequence, and received billing in the film’s program as an “added attraction,” as Madame Elinor Glyn.
The 9 February 1927 FD indicated that It had been released sometime ...
The 21 August 1926 Motion Picture News announced that Paramount Famous Lasky Corp. had signed a deal with author Elinor Glyn to produce her forthcoming film adaptations, the making of which Glyn would supervise. The first production on the slate was It, set to star Clara Bow in her first leading role. John Waters was named as the director, but he did not remain with the project.
According to the same day’s Moving Picture World, Glyn’s It “was especially written for Hearst Newspapers to be published in serial form” preceding its publication as a novel. The 28 January 1927 Motion Picture News clarified that the story first appeared in the February 1927 issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine.
Principal photography began on 1 October 1926, under the direction of Clarence Badger, as stated in the 3 October 1926 FD. Badger became ill during filming, and Josef von Sternberg directed some scenes during his absence.
On 30 November 1926, FD announced that filming had completed. The 11 December 1926 Moving Picture World reported that the final scenes filmed were of the “unusual amusement park sequence.”
According to the January 1927 Motion Picture Magazine, Glyn appeared onscreen in the picture. The 9 February 1927 Variety review confirmed that Glyn made her first credited screen appearance in It, noting that she played herself in a restaurant sequence, and received billing in the film’s program as an “added attraction,” as Madame Elinor Glyn.
The 9 February 1927 FD indicated that It had been released sometime in January 1927 at the Loew’s Palace Theatre in Memphis, TN. The picture opened in New York City at the Paramount Theatre on 5 February 1927, as reported in the Var review.
The 13 February 1927 FD review deemed It a “sprightly little yarn.” Both Variety and FD praised Bow’s performance, crediting her natural “It” quality. In the wake of the film’s success, Bow became one of the biggest stars of the silent era.
According to the Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database, this film is extant. It was screened at the Kansas Silent Film Festival on 27 February 1999 and again on 25 February 2016.
At Waltham's Department Store, Betty Lou and her friends see their new boss, Cyrus Waltham, who has taken over the running of his father's store. After discussing Elinor Glyn's story, "It", the girls decide that Cyrus has "it," and Betty Lou sets her sights on him. After work, she overhears Cyrus tell his friend, Monty, that he will be dining at the Ritz that evening. Betty Lou schemes an introduction to Monty, and convinces him to take her to the Ritz for dinner. When they arrive, he tries to direct her to a secluded table, but she insists on sitting at a table near Cyrus, and flirts with him from across the room throughout dinner. Before long, Betty Lou and Cyrus begin courting. Sometime later, social services threatens to take away the baby of Betty Lou's roommate, Molly, whom they deem an unfit mother. To help her friend, Betty Lou claims the child as hers, and proves that she has a job to support it. Monty and a newspaper reporter witness the dramatic event as it unfolds, and Monty vouches for Betty Lou. When Monty shows Cyrus the news item and exposes Betty Lou's deceitfulness, Cyrus snubs her. Betty Lou, unaware that Cyrus believes her to be the mother of a fatherless child, is scorned by his sudden disinterest, and quits her job. Learning of the misunderstanding from Monty, Betty Lou plots revenge, vowing to win Cyrus back and laugh in his ...
At Waltham's Department Store, Betty Lou and her friends see their new boss, Cyrus Waltham, who has taken over the running of his father's store. After discussing Elinor Glyn's story, "It", the girls decide that Cyrus has "it," and Betty Lou sets her sights on him. After work, she overhears Cyrus tell his friend, Monty, that he will be dining at the Ritz that evening. Betty Lou schemes an introduction to Monty, and convinces him to take her to the Ritz for dinner. When they arrive, he tries to direct her to a secluded table, but she insists on sitting at a table near Cyrus, and flirts with him from across the room throughout dinner. Before long, Betty Lou and Cyrus begin courting. Sometime later, social services threatens to take away the baby of Betty Lou's roommate, Molly, whom they deem an unfit mother. To help her friend, Betty Lou claims the child as hers, and proves that she has a job to support it. Monty and a newspaper reporter witness the dramatic event as it unfolds, and Monty vouches for Betty Lou. When Monty shows Cyrus the news item and exposes Betty Lou's deceitfulness, Cyrus snubs her. Betty Lou, unaware that Cyrus believes her to be the mother of a fatherless child, is scorned by his sudden disinterest, and quits her job. Learning of the misunderstanding from Monty, Betty Lou plots revenge, vowing to win Cyrus back and laugh in his face when he proposes marriage. She arrives at Cyrus's yachting party as Monty's date. Although Cyrus has invited his own date, Adela Van Norman, he is smitten with Betty Lou. He overcomes his concerns that she is an unwed mother and proposes marriage, but she rejects him coldly, laughing in his face. However, Betty Lou laments her behavior, and cries on Monty's shoulder. Monty reveals the truth to Cyrus, then takes over the helm while Cyrus searches for the girl. Distracted, Monty crashes the yacht into another ship, and Betty Lou and Adela fall overboard. Betty Lou keeps her rival from drowning before Cyrus jumps in to rescue the women. As Betty Lou swims to safety, Cyrus leaves Adela in Monty's care, and pursues Betty Lou. Clinging to the anchor, Betty Lou and Cyrus share a passionate kiss.
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