| ~The Ordeal~ 1922 |
| ~Cast~ Clarence Burton ... George Bruce Agnes Ayres ... Sybil Bruce Conrad Nagel ... Dr. Robert Acton Edna Murphy ... Helen Brayshaw Anne Schaefer ... Minnie Gino Corrado ... Gene (as Eugene Corey) Adele Farrington ... Madame St. Levis Edward Martindel ... Sir Francis Maynard Shannon Day ... Kitty Claire Du Brey ... Elise |
| ~Promotional photograph from The California Theater to promote the screening of "The Ordeal," for the week of July 9th, 1922~ |
| Directed by: Paul Powell Written by: Beulah Marie Dix Based on a story by W. Somerset Maugham. |
W. Somerset Maugham's first original story for the screen proves one thing -- Maugham could not
translate his inspiration to film on his own. All he could come up with was this hackneyed drama. Agnes
Ayres plays Sybil Bruce, one of those long-suffering maidens found by the dozens in silent pictures. Her
elderly husband George (Clarence Burton) is a mean-tempered, jealous drunk...but he also is very
wealthy. Dr. Robert Acton (Conrad Nagel) is ministering to Bruce's weak heart, but Bruce doesn't want
him near his wife so he throws him out of the house. Naturally, the excitable old man keels over and
dies. When his will is read, Sybil finds he has left her his fortune -- providing she never marries again; if
she weds she loses it all. The doctor does love her, but he dare not approach her with a proposal
because he does not feel he can support her in the style to which she has become accustomed. In
addition, Sybil's sister, Helen (Edna Murphy) and brother, Geoffrey (Edward Sutherland) have acquired
a taste for the high life that she feels it is her duty to support. But when a maid confesses that she killed
Bruce by giving him a poisoned mint julep, the couple decide to marry after all.
Plot Synopsis by Janiss Garza, AllMovie.com
translate his inspiration to film on his own. All he could come up with was this hackneyed drama. Agnes
Ayres plays Sybil Bruce, one of those long-suffering maidens found by the dozens in silent pictures. Her
elderly husband George (Clarence Burton) is a mean-tempered, jealous drunk...but he also is very
wealthy. Dr. Robert Acton (Conrad Nagel) is ministering to Bruce's weak heart, but Bruce doesn't want
him near his wife so he throws him out of the house. Naturally, the excitable old man keels over and
dies. When his will is read, Sybil finds he has left her his fortune -- providing she never marries again; if
she weds she loses it all. The doctor does love her, but he dare not approach her with a proposal
because he does not feel he can support her in the style to which she has become accustomed. In
addition, Sybil's sister, Helen (Edna Murphy) and brother, Geoffrey (Edward Sutherland) have acquired
a taste for the high life that she feels it is her duty to support. But when a maid confesses that she killed
Bruce by giving him a poisoned mint julep, the couple decide to marry after all.
Plot Synopsis by Janiss Garza, AllMovie.com
| ~Plot Synopsis~ |
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| ~Remaining Credits~ Produced by: Famous Players-Lasky Corporation Released by: Paramount Pictures Cinematography by: Harry Perry Presenter: Adolph Zukor Length: 5 Reels Runtime: 50 Minutes Released: May 21, 1922 |