The Love of Sunya
Encyclopedia
The Love of Sunya is a silent film
directed by Albert Parker
, and based on the play The Eyes of Youth by Max Marcin
and Charles Guernon. Produced by and starring Gloria Swanson
, it also stars John Boles
and Pauline Garon
. It premiered at the grand opening of the Roxy Theatre in New York City
on March 11, 1927. Accoring to Swanson's autobiography this production had trouble securing adequate cameramen, the services of George Barnes
were eventually secured though he is given no screen credit.
starring Clara Kimball Young
. (That production was also directed by Albert Parker and was responsible for the discovery of Rudolph Valentino
by June Mathis
.)
The production was marred by several problems, mainly a suitable cameraman to deal with the films intricate double exposures, as Swanson was not used to taking charge and filming took place in New York City. The film performed poorly at the boxoffice, and Swanson felt it was terrible.
Due to this failure, producer Joseph M. Schenck convinced Swanson to come back to Hollywood and to film something more commercial. Swanson agreed but ended up filming the more controversial Sadie Thompson
(1928) instead. That film was her most successful independent production.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
directed by Albert Parker
Albert Parker (director)
Albert Parker was an American film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. He directed 36 films between 1917 and 1938. In the early 1930s Parker left Hollywood for England where he continued to direct films and also opened an actors' agency office...
, and based on the play The Eyes of Youth by Max Marcin
Max Marcin
Max Marcin was a Polish screenwriter and film director. He wrote for 47 films between 1916 and 1949. He also directed six films between 1931 and 1936. His stage work includes See My Lawyer , directed by Frank M...
and Charles Guernon. Produced by and starring Gloria Swanson
Gloria Swanson
Gloria Swanson was an American actress, singer and producer. She was one of the most prominent stars during the silent film era as both an actress and a fashion icon, especially under the direction of Cecil B. DeMille, made dozens of silents and was nominated for the first Academy Award in the...
, it also stars John Boles
John Boles (actor)
-Early life:Boles was born in Greenville, Texas, into a middle-class family. He graduated with honors from the University of Texas in 1917 and married Marielite Dobbs in that same year. His parents wanted him to be a doctor and Boles studied and finally got his B.A. degree, but the stage called...
and Pauline Garon
Pauline Garon
Pauline Garon was a Canadian-born American silent film, feature film and stage actress.-Early life:Born in Montreal, Quebec as Marie Pauline Garon, Garon was the daughter of Pierre and Victoria Garon. Pierre was of French descent and Victoria's heritage was Irish...
. It premiered at the grand opening of the Roxy Theatre in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on March 11, 1927. Accoring to Swanson's autobiography this production had trouble securing adequate cameramen, the services of George Barnes
George Barnes (cinematographer)
George S. Barnes, A.S.C. was an American cinematographer from the era of silent films to the early 1950s. Over the course of his career, he was nominated for an Academy Award eight times, including his work on The Devil Dancer with Gilda Gray and Clive Brook...
were eventually secured though he is given no screen credit.
Plot
The film depicts a young woman (Swanson) granted the ability to see into her future, including her future with different men.Cast
- Gloria SwansonGloria SwansonGloria Swanson was an American actress, singer and producer. She was one of the most prominent stars during the silent film era as both an actress and a fashion icon, especially under the direction of Cecil B. DeMille, made dozens of silents and was nominated for the first Academy Award in the...
- Sunya Ashling - John BolesJohn BolesJohn Boles may refer to:*John Boles , baseball executive*John Boles , American actor*John Boles , American sports shooter*John Patrick Boles , American Roman Catholic bishop...
- Paul Judson - Pauline GaronPauline GaronPauline Garon was a Canadian-born American silent film, feature film and stage actress.-Early life:Born in Montreal, Quebec as Marie Pauline Garon, Garon was the daughter of Pierre and Victoria Garon. Pierre was of French descent and Victoria's heritage was Irish...
- Anna Hagan - Ian KeithIan Keith-Life and career:Born Keith Ross in Boston, Massachusetts, Ian Keith was a veteran character actor of the legitimate theater, and appeared in a variety of colorful roles in silent features of the 1920s. His stage training made him a natural choice for the new "talking pictures"; he played John...
- Louis Anthony - Andres de SegurolaAndrés de SegurolaAndrés Perelló de Segurola was a Spanish operatic bass who performed as Andrés de Segurola.-Biography:...
- Paola deSalvo - Anders RandolfAnders RandolfAnders Randolf was a Danish American actor in American films from 1913 to 1931.Anders was born in Viborg, Denmark where he became a professional soldier in the Danish army and a world-class swordsman. He immigrated to the United States in 1895, quickly giving in to a lifelong passion for the...
- Robert Goring - Hugh Miller - The Outcast
- Robert Schable - Henri Picard
- Ivan LebedeffIvan LebedeffIvan Lebedeff was a Russian film actor. He appeared in 66 films between 1926 and 1953.He was born in Ushpol , Lithuania, then part of the Russian Empire, on June 18, 1894, and died in Los Angeles, California, from a heart attack.He migrated to the United States in 1925 and in 1930 was recorded at...
- Ted Morgan - John Miltern - Asa Ashling
- Raymond HackettRaymond HackettRaymond Hackett was a stage and screen actor. He had been a child actor on the Broadway stage and was the brother of Albert Hackett. He was born in New York City the son of Maurice Hackett and Florence Hackett . His mother was later a silent screen actress. Hackett's first wife was Myra Hampton,...
- Kenneth Ashling - Florence Fair - Rita Ashling
Production background
This film, sometimes known as The Loves of Sunya, was Swanson's first independent production. The story had been filmed previously as Eyes of YouthEyes of Youth
Eyes of Youth is a silent film directed by Albert Parker and starring Clara Kimball Young. The film was based on a stage play Eyes of Youth performed on Broadway in 1917-18 and had starred Marjorie Rambeau. This film also featured actor named Rudolph Valentino in a role as a thief/con artist...
starring Clara Kimball Young
Clara Kimball Young
Clara Kimball Young was an American film actress, who was highly regarded and publicly popular in the early silent film era.-Early life:...
. (That production was also directed by Albert Parker and was responsible for the discovery of Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
by June Mathis
June Mathis
June Mathis was an American screenwriter and one of the highest paid Hollywood executives in the 1920s. Mathis was the first female executive for Metro/MGM and at only 35, she was the highest paid executive in Hollywood. In 1926 she was voted the third most influential woman in Hollywood, behind...
.)
The production was marred by several problems, mainly a suitable cameraman to deal with the films intricate double exposures, as Swanson was not used to taking charge and filming took place in New York City. The film performed poorly at the boxoffice, and Swanson felt it was terrible.
Due to this failure, producer Joseph M. Schenck convinced Swanson to come back to Hollywood and to film something more commercial. Swanson agreed but ended up filming the more controversial Sadie Thompson
Sadie Thompson
Sadie Thompson is an American silent film that tells the story of a "fallen woman" who comes to Pago Pago on the island of Tutuila to start a new life, but encounters a zealous missionary who wants to force her back to her former life in San Francisco. The film stars Gloria Swanson, Lionel...
(1928) instead. That film was her most successful independent production.