 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| ~Down to Earth~ 1917 |
| Directed by: John Emerson Written by: John Emerson Douglas Fairbanks - story Anita Loos |
| ~Cast~ Douglas Fairbanks ... Billy Gaynor Eileen Percy ... Ethel Forsythe Gustav von Seyffertitz ... Dr. Jollyem Charles McHugh ... Dr. Samm Charles K. Gerrard ... Charles Riddles - Ethel's Lover William H. Keith ... Mr. Carter Ruth Allen ... Mrs. Fuller Jermes Fred Goodwins ... Jordan Jinny Florence Mayon ... Mrs. Phattison Oiles Herbert Standing ... Mr. S.D. Dyspeptic David Porter ... Mr. Coffin Bull Montana ... Wild Man |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
SilentHollywood.com Discussion Group on Facebook Internet Movie Database Allmovie.com Turner Classic Movies American Film Institute The Movie Gal Facebook Page |
| ~Remaining Credits~ Production Company: Douglas Fairbanks Pictures Distribution Company: Artcraft Pictures Corporation Produced by: Douglas Fairbanks Cinematography by: Victor Fleming Film Editing by: William Shea Second Unit Director: Joseph Henabery Assistant Cinematographer: Glen MacWilliams General Manager: John Fairbanks Length: 5 Reels Runtime: 71 Minutes Released: August 16, 1917 Filmed at: Yosemite National Park, California, USA |
| ~Plot Synopsis~ |
Douglas Fairbanks recalls James M. Barrie's The Admirable Crichton in the 1917 silent Down to Earth.
Billy Gaynor (Fairbanks) takes over an asylum where his girl, Ethel (Eileen Percy), is resting after a
supposed nervous breakdown. "Doctor" Gaynor realizes that Ethel is perfectly healthy; all that's
wrong with her is that she has become soft and spoiled thanks to modern living and too-rigid
adherence to passing fads and foibles. He arranges for Ethel and the rest of the hypochondriac
patients to take an ocean voyage, then stages a shipwreck, forcing these pampered creatures to fend
for themselves on a "desert island" (actually a wooded glade just off a main California highway).
Sunshine and hard work does more good for the patients than all the psychiatrists and so-called
experts in the world. Having proven his point, Billy claims his girl and bids the other patients a jaunty
farewell.
Plot Synopsis by Hal Erickson, AllMovie.com
Billy Gaynor (Fairbanks) takes over an asylum where his girl, Ethel (Eileen Percy), is resting after a
supposed nervous breakdown. "Doctor" Gaynor realizes that Ethel is perfectly healthy; all that's
wrong with her is that she has become soft and spoiled thanks to modern living and too-rigid
adherence to passing fads and foibles. He arranges for Ethel and the rest of the hypochondriac
patients to take an ocean voyage, then stages a shipwreck, forcing these pampered creatures to fend
for themselves on a "desert island" (actually a wooded glade just off a main California highway).
Sunshine and hard work does more good for the patients than all the psychiatrists and so-called
experts in the world. Having proven his point, Billy claims his girl and bids the other patients a jaunty
farewell.
Plot Synopsis by Hal Erickson, AllMovie.com
