The Necessary Evil is a lost 1925 American silent drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Ben Lyon, Viola Dana, and Frank Mayo.[1]

The Necessary Evil
Still of a scene rehearsal
Directed byGeorge Archainbaud
Written byStephen Vincent Benét
Eve Unsell
StarringBen Lyon
Viola Dana
Frank Mayo
CinematographyGeorge J. Folsey
Edited byArthur Tavares
Production
company
Distributed byFirst National Pictures
Release date
  • May 17, 1925 (1925-05-17)
Running time
70 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

The film's sets were designed by the art director Milton Menasco.

Plot

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As described in a film magazine review,[2] Dick Jerome, adored of women and always forgiven of everything because of his good looks and disposition, has married the good and beautiful Frances, who was also loved by Dick's employer, David Devanant. Dick dies while assigned to South America, and David marries Shirley. David makes Dick's son Frank feel that he is an enemy. Frank learns of the method of his father's death and swears that he will break his stepfather. David sends Frank to South America, and he makes a man of himself. David writes a letter to his stepson, and when he returns he gives it to him to read. It provides to Frank proof of his father's unworthiness and states why David always acted as his stepson's enemy: so that he can face Frances in the beyond, knowing that he made a man of her son. Frank turns to find that David has died.

Cast

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Preservation

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With no prints of The Necessary Evil located in any film archives, it is a lost film.[3] it is a lost film.

References

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  1. ^ Langman, Larry (2000). Destination Hollywood: The Influence of Europeans on American Filmmaking. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 34. ISBN 078640681X.
  2. ^ "New Pictures: The Necessary Evil", Exhibitors Herald, 21 (8): 83–84, May 16, 1925, retrieved February 21, 2022   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: The Necessary Evil
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