The Soul of Youth is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by William Desmond Taylor, produced and distributed by Realart Pictures. Produced under the working title The Boy, it stars Lewis Sargent and Lila Lee.[1][2]

The Soul of Youth
Still with director William Desmond Taylor, Lewis Sargent, and jurist Benjamin Barr Lindsey
Directed byWilliam Desmond Taylor
Written byJulia Crawford Ivers (story, scenario)
Produced byRealart Pictures
StarringLewis Sargent
Lila Lee
CinematographyJames Van Trees
Distributed byRealart Pictures Corporation (*Zukor's short lived affiliate of Famous Players–Lasky)
Release date
  • August 15, 1920 (1920-08-15)
Running time
6 reels
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)
The Soul of Youth

The film has been preserved in the Library of Congress collection.[3][4]

Plot

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As described in a film magazine,[5] Ed Simpson (Sargent), victim of prenatal influence and an unloved childhood, is introduced into the orphanage where his liveliness has made him the butt of taunting orphans and menacing officials. Love first comes into his life when he acquires a dog, and when it is ousted he follows, taking to the streets with his pal Mike (Butterworth). Through cunning the two boys obtain incriminating evidence that keeps a rascally politician from office. This paves the way for the clear supremacy of his rival, who gives Ed a home and adopts him. The getting of papers by the boys helps adjust a troubled love affair between Vera Hamilton (Lee) and Dick Armstrong (Collier), two friends of the youth, and makes possible their marriage. When Ed after leaving the home steals to satisfy his hunger, he helps himself to canned goods on the shelves of the Hamiltons, who eventually become his foster parents.

Cast

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References

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  1. ^ Progressive Silent Film List: The Soul of Youth at silentera.com
  2. ^ The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: The Soul of Youth
  3. ^ Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress, p. 171 c.1978 by The American Film Institute
  4. ^ The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Soul of Youth
  5. ^ "Reviews: The Soul of Youth". Exhibitors Herald. 11 (18). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 88. October 30, 1920.
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