Beckoning Roads is a 1919 American silent drama film based on the novel The Call of Life by Jeanne Judson. The novel was originally serialized in Red Book Magazine from August to December 1918.
| Beckoning Roads | |
|---|---|
_-_1.jpg) Newspaper advertisement for Beckoning Roads reprinted in a 1920 issue of Exhibitors Herald | |
| Directed by | Howard C. Hickman |
| Written by | Harvey Gates (scenario) |
| Based on | The Call of Life by Jeanne Judson |
| Produced by | Bessie Barriscale |
| Starring | Bessie Barriscale |
| Cinematography | Eugene Gaudio |
| Distributed by | Robertson-Cole |
Release date |
|
Running time | 5 reels |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | Silent (English intertitles) |
It was directed by Howard C. Hickman and Bessie Barriscale was producer and star. It was released by Robertson-Cole Distributing Corp. on December 14, 1919.[1][2]
Plot
editAs described in a film magazine,[3] Marquita Shay was brought up by an adoptive father, John Grayson, on a farm in Canada. The two travel to St. Louis, where she meet and subsequently marries Humphrey Wells. Their marital bliss dissolves quickly when Marquita meets Humphrey's parents, especially his domineering father. Her in-laws treat her very poorly and upon the discovery that new husband has no backbone, Marquita leaves her husband to return to her father's farm.
Unfortunately, Marquita discovers that her father has committed suicide after a ruinous financial turn engineered by her swindler father-in-law. Marquita ventures to New York City, where she gets work as a secretary for Wells, Sr.'s business partner. Marquita manages to ruin the shady financier and reunites with her husband, who has finally renounced his terrible father.
Cast
edit- Bessie Barriscale as Marquita Shay
- Niles Welch as Humphrey Wells
- George Periolat as John Grayson
- Joseph J. Dowling as Baron Brinker
- Emmett King as Henry Wells
- Dorcas Matthews as Mrs. Rose-Gordon Chester
- Thomas Holding as Cecil Barrington
Preservation
editWith no prints of Beckoning Roads located in any film archives, it is considered a lost film.[4] In February of 2021, the film was cited by the National Film Preservation Board on their Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films list.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b "Beckoning Roads". afi.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Progressive Silent Film List: Beckoning Roads". silentera.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Just An Average Feature With a Fine Performance by Star". Wid's Daily. New York City: Wid's Films and Film Folks, Inc.: 13 December 28, 1919.
- ^ "American Silent Feature Film Database: Beckoning Roads". Library of Congress. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
External links
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