Barriers Burned Away is a 1925 American silent historical drama film directed by W.S. Van Dyke and starring Mabel Ballin, Eric Mayne, and Frank Mayo.[1] It is set at the time of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.
| Barriers Burned Away | |
|---|---|
_-_2.jpg) Trade advertisement | |
| Directed by | W.S. Van Dyke |
| Written by | Leah Baird |
| Based on | Barriers Burned Away by Edward Payson Roe |
| Produced by | Arthur F. Beck |
| Starring | Mabel Ballin Eric Mayne Frank Mayo |
| Cinematography | André Barlatier |
Production company | Encore Pictures |
| Distributed by | Pathé Exchange |
Release date |
|
Running time | 70 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
The film is loosely adapted from the 1872 novel of the same name by Edward Payson Roe.
Plot
edit_-_1.jpg)
As described in a review in a film magazine,[2] Wayne Morgan (Mayo), an artist, learns from his mother that a valuable painting has been stolen. In order to track it down, he takes a job as a porter in the Randolph Art Shop. He eventually discovers the picture has been copied and denounces the copy as lacking inspiration, claiming the original. Mellon (Morey), who stole it, is sent to prison and Wayne gets his position as store manager. Christine Randolph (Ballin), painter of the copy, whom Wayne falls in love with, then tells him it was all a plot to get even with him. The great Chicago fire breaks out, due to Mrs. Leary’s (Craig) cow kicking over a lantern, setting fire to the barn. The whole city is destroyed, and Wayne rescues Christine who declares her real love for him.
Cast
edit| Actors | Characters |
|---|---|
| Mabel Ballin | Christine Randolph |
| Eric Mayne | Mark Randolph |
| Frank Mayo | Wayne Morgan |
| Wanda Hawley | Molly Winthrop |
| Wally Van | Gale Winthrop |
| Arline Pretty | Mildred McCormick |
| Lawson Butt | Earl of Tarnsey |
| Tom Santschi | Hon. Bill Cronk |
| Harry T. Morey | Howard Mellon |
| Jim Mason | Slim Edwards |
| J.P. Lockney | Patrick Leary |
| Mrs. Charles Craig | Mrs. Leary |
| William V. Mong | Peg-Leg Sullivan |
| Pat Harmon | Halstead Street Terror |
| Frankie Mann | Kitty |
Preservation
editA print of Barriers Burned Away is located in the Cineteca Italiana in Milan.[3]
References
edit- ^ Munden p. 40
- ^ Sewell, Charles S. (December 27, 1924). "Barriers Burned Away; Adaptation of Novel Built Around Great Chicago Fire Proves Unusually Good Entertainment". The Moving Picture World. 71 (8). New York City: Chalmers Publishing Co.: 831, 882.
- ^ Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: Barriers Burned Away
Bibliography
edit- Munden, Kenneth White. The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States, Part 1. University of California Press, 1997.
External links
edit
- Barriers Burned Away at Standard Ebooks
- Barriers Burned Away at IMDb
- Synopsis at AllMovie
- Lobby card at Getty Images.
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