The Ace of Hearts (1921 film)
Encyclopedia
The Ace of Hearts is a 1921
film produced and directed by Wallace Worsley
. The screenplay by Ruth Wightman is based on the pulp novel The Purple Mask by Gouverneur Morris. It stars Leatrice Joy
, John Bowers and Lon Chaney
.
) and Farralone (Lon Chaney
) are both in love with the sole woman in the group, Lilith (Leatrice Joy
). Forrest openly declares his love, but is spurned by Lilith, who is completely devoted to the "Cause".
At a meeting later that day, as per their custom, Lilith deals playing cards, one at a time, to each of the society members; whoever receives the ace of hearts is to carry out the assassination. When Forrest is dealt the ace, Lilith offers to marry him that very day if it will give him courage. Forrest readily accepts, much to Farralone’s distress. After the couple’s marriage, the grief-stricken Farralone spends the night in the rain outside their apartment.
The next morning, Lilith has been transformed by her love. She begs Forrest not to go through with the assassination. He replies that he is honor-bound to carry out his mission. He goes to the café where his target habitually dines and where Forrest works as a waiter.
A distraught Lilith pleads with Farralone to stop Forrest. Farralone agrees to help the couple escape the society's punishment if Forrest fails his task, but extracts a promise of marriage from Lilith if Forrest is killed. Meanwhile, Forrest decides to abort his mission after he spies a young eloping couple seated next to the rich man’s table. When he returns to the secret council, the group's leader, Morgridge (Hardee Kirkland
), sends the couple away to await Forrest's execution. Farralone begs the others to reconsider, but they are unmoved. When the cards are dealt, it is Farralone who gets the ace of hearts. Laughing, he carries out his part of the bargain with Lilith by setting off the bomb, killing all present.
The Ace of Hearts was the second of the five productions that Lon Chaney made for Goldwyn Pictures between his contracts at Universal and MGM. It reunited him with director Wallace Worsley and co-star John Bowers after their work on The Penalty
(1920), also based on a Gouverneur Morris novel. The film was one of Leatrice Joy’s last productions for Goldwyn before her move to Paramount Pictures
the following year.
1921 in film
-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1921:U.S.A. unless stated*$10,000 Under a Pillow, silent film directed by Frank Moser*The Ace of Hearts, silent film directed by Wallace Worsley*Across the Divide, silent film directed by John Holloway...
film produced and directed by Wallace Worsley
Wallace Worsley
Wallace A. Worsley Sr. was an American stage actor who became a director in the silent film era. Worsley directed 29 films during the years 1918-1928 and acted in 7 films. He directed several films starring Lon Chaney Sr...
. The screenplay by Ruth Wightman is based on the pulp novel The Purple Mask by Gouverneur Morris. It stars Leatrice Joy
Leatrice Joy
Leatrice Joy was an American actress most prolific during the early silent film era.-Early life and career:...
, John Bowers and Lon Chaney
Lon Chaney, Sr.
Lon Chaney , nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Faces," was an American actor during the age of silent films. He was one of the most versatile and powerful actors of early cinema...
.
Plot
The film is divided into eight chapters. A secret vigilante society's nine members pass judgment on others. They meet to decide the fate of a wealthy businessman they have been keeping under surveillance known as “The Man Who Has Lived Too Long” and vote to dispatch him with a homemade bomb concealed in a cigar case. Members Forrest (John BowersJohn Bowers
John Bowers was an American stage and silent film actor who starred in ninety-four films including short subjects.-Biography:...
) and Farralone (Lon Chaney
Lon Chaney, Sr.
Lon Chaney , nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Faces," was an American actor during the age of silent films. He was one of the most versatile and powerful actors of early cinema...
) are both in love with the sole woman in the group, Lilith (Leatrice Joy
Leatrice Joy
Leatrice Joy was an American actress most prolific during the early silent film era.-Early life and career:...
). Forrest openly declares his love, but is spurned by Lilith, who is completely devoted to the "Cause".
At a meeting later that day, as per their custom, Lilith deals playing cards, one at a time, to each of the society members; whoever receives the ace of hearts is to carry out the assassination. When Forrest is dealt the ace, Lilith offers to marry him that very day if it will give him courage. Forrest readily accepts, much to Farralone’s distress. After the couple’s marriage, the grief-stricken Farralone spends the night in the rain outside their apartment.
The next morning, Lilith has been transformed by her love. She begs Forrest not to go through with the assassination. He replies that he is honor-bound to carry out his mission. He goes to the café where his target habitually dines and where Forrest works as a waiter.
A distraught Lilith pleads with Farralone to stop Forrest. Farralone agrees to help the couple escape the society's punishment if Forrest fails his task, but extracts a promise of marriage from Lilith if Forrest is killed. Meanwhile, Forrest decides to abort his mission after he spies a young eloping couple seated next to the rich man’s table. When he returns to the secret council, the group's leader, Morgridge (Hardee Kirkland
Hardee Kirkland
Hardee Kirkland was an American film actor and director of the silent era. He appeared in 41 films between 1915 and 1925. He also directed 33 films between 1912 and 1914....
), sends the couple away to await Forrest's execution. Farralone begs the others to reconsider, but they are unmoved. When the cards are dealt, it is Farralone who gets the ace of hearts. Laughing, he carries out his part of the bargain with Lilith by setting off the bomb, killing all present.
Production
The film was originally shot with a different ending in which Forrest, Lilith and their baby are shown living in the mountains, believing they have escaped death with Farralone’s help. One day, Forrest discovers the Ace of Hearts wedged in the bark of a tree and rushes back to the cabin only to discover Morgridge arriving, one of his arms amputated and his legs hobbled. Morgridge, who has survived the bomb blast, tells the couple of Farralone’s sacrifice and of his own conversion to the ideal of love as a greater force for changing the world than death and destruction. When Sam Goldwyn saw a screening, he declared the ending preposterous and ordered that it be reshot.The Ace of Hearts was the second of the five productions that Lon Chaney made for Goldwyn Pictures between his contracts at Universal and MGM. It reunited him with director Wallace Worsley and co-star John Bowers after their work on The Penalty
The Penalty (film)
The Penalty is an American crime film, originally released in 1920. It was directed by Wallace Worsley, and written by Philip Lonergan and Charles Kenyon, based upon the pulp novel by Gouverneur Morris. It starred Lon Chaney, Charles Clary, Doris Pawn, Jim Mason, and Claire Adams.-Cast:*Charles...
(1920), also based on a Gouverneur Morris novel. The film was one of Leatrice Joy’s last productions for Goldwyn before her move to Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
the following year.
Cast
- Leatrice JoyLeatrice JoyLeatrice Joy was an American actress most prolific during the early silent film era.-Early life and career:...
... Lilith - John BowersJohn BowersJohn Bowers was an American stage and silent film actor who starred in ninety-four films including short subjects.-Biography:...
... Forrest - Lon ChaneyLon Chaney, Sr.Lon Chaney , nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Faces," was an American actor during the age of silent films. He was one of the most versatile and powerful actors of early cinema...
... Farralone - Hardee KirklandHardee KirklandHardee Kirkland was an American film actor and director of the silent era. He appeared in 41 films between 1915 and 1925. He also directed 33 films between 1912 and 1914....
... Morgridge - Edwin N. Wallack ... Chemist
- Raymond HattonRaymond HattonRaymond William Hatton was an American movie actor who appeared in almost five hundred movies, including a stint of being paired in 1920s comedies with Wallace Beery....
... The Man Who Lived Too Long - Roy LaidlawRoy LaidlawRoy James Laidlaw is a Scottish rugby union footballer. Laidlaw was capped 47 times, as a scrum half, for Scotland between 1980–1988, and British Lions in New Zealand in 1983....
... Doorkeeper