Experience (1921 film)

Experience is a 1921 American silent morality drama film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The allegorical film was directed by George Fitzmaurice and starred Richard Barthelmess. It was based on George V. Hobart's successful 1914 Broadway play of the same name.[1] It was the film debut of Lilyan Tashman.

Experience
1921 theatrical poster
Directed byGeorge Fitzmaurice
Produced byAdolph Zukor
Jesse L. Lasky
Written byWaldemar Young (scenario)
Based onExperience
by George V. Hobart
StarringRichard Barthelmess
Lilyan Tashman
Reginald Denny
Marjorie Daw
CinematographyArthur C. Miller
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • October 23, 1921 (1921-10-23)
Running time
70 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

Experience is presumed to be a lost film.[2]

Plot

The plot of Experience was summarized in the August 1921 issue of Photoplay magazine.

  • Youth (Richard Barthelmess) hears Ambition's call and leaves his mother (Kate Bruce) and Love (Marjorie Daw) to seek his fortune.[3]
  • Experience (John Miltern) is to teach Youth many things about life.[3]
  • Youth encounters Pleasure, Beauty, and Wealth. He asks Opportunity to wait for him. But Opportunity cannot![3]
  • Youth is enthralled by Pleasure (Lilyan Tashman) and, while Experience looks on, is welcomed into the gay party.[3]
  • Youth's funds run low and Chance directs him to a gambling house where he can double his money. At first he wins, but later luck leaves him.[3]
  • Temptation (Nita Naldi) fascinates Youth. She intercepts a letter telling Youth of his mother's death.[3]
  • Experience meanwhile teaches Youth to know Excitement (Sibyl Carmen).[3]
  • Smirking Conceit (Robert Schable) with his ever-present mirror.[3]
  • And Intoxication (an all-too-present companion) (Helen Ray).[3]
  • And - eventually - the sanctimonious Prohibition (Leslie King).[3]
  • Finally, accused of theft, Youth is ejected to the gutter.[3]
  • Crime (Louis Wolheim) seeks to persuade Youth to rob Wealth's house.[3]
  • But Youth returns home, where Love and Hope await.[3]
  • With Love by his side, Youth is enriched by Experience.[3]

Cast

Production

Some of the minor roles were filled through contests held in various cities, which gave advance publicity for the film. For example, Edna Wheaton was selected for the role of "Beauty" through a contest run by the New York Daily News.[4]

See also

References
  1. Experience as produced on Broadway at the Booth, Casino and Maxine Elliott's Theatres, starting Oct. 27, 1914 - Jan. 1915 (Booth), Jan 11, 1915 - May 1915 (Casino), May 3, 1915 - June 5, 1915 (Maxine Elliott). Play revived in 1918 at Manhattan Opera House 23 performances; IBDb.com database
  2. Progressive Silent Film List: Experience at silentera.com
  3. "Experience". Photoplay. Chicago: Photoplay Publishing Co. 20 (3): 51. August 1921. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  4. "Beauty Winners: Contest Gives Wide Advance Publicity on Experience, Forthcoming Paramount Picture", Exhibitors Herald, 12 (16): 48, 16 April 1921


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