The Foolish Virgin is a lost[1] 1924 American silent romantic drama film released by Columbia Pictures. It was directed by George W. Hill and stars Elaine Hammerstein.[2] It is based on the 1915 novel The Foolish Virgin: A Romance of Today by Thomas Dixon Jr. This is the second known adaptation of the novel; the first was released in 1916.[3]

The Foolish Virgin
Lobby card
Directed byGeorge W. Hill
Written byLois Zellner
Based onThe Foolish Virgin: A Romance of Today
by Thomas Dixon Jr.
StarringElaine Hammerstein
CinematographyNorbert Brodine
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • August 15, 1924 (1924-08-15)
Running time
6 reels
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

Plot

edit

Jim Owens (Frazer) rescues Mary Adams (Hammerstein) from a scheming lawyer. Jim is successful inventor, however Mary is unaware that he has a history as a thief before they met. They fall in love and get married. Mary leaves Jim when she discovers his criminal history. In the end Jim rescues Mary and their child from a forest fire, renewing Mary's love for Jim. The 1924 plot notably differs from the book and the 1916 film. In the earlier versions Jim's thievery continued during the marriage, and only he reformed his ways after losing Mary.[4][3]

Cast

edit

Critical reception

edit

While Variety magazine in 1924 wrote that "It should please the average audience", in 1925 Photoplay magazine described The Foolish Virgin as "silly, uninteresting, tiresome".[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: The Foolish Virgin
  2. ^ The Foolish Virgin at the Turner Classic Movies Database
  3. ^ a b c Slide, Anthony (2004). American Racist: The Life and Films of Thomas Dixon. Louisville, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky. p. 110. ISBN 0-8131-2328-3.
  4. ^ The Foolish Virgin (1924), American Film Institute's Catalog of Feature Films
edit