St. Elmo (1923 American film)

St. Elmo
Advertisement
Directed byJerome Storm
Written byJules G. Furthman
Based onSt. Elmo (novel)
by Augusta Jane Evans
StarringJohn Gilbert
Barbara La Marr
Bessie Love
CinematographyJoseph H. August
Distributed byFox Film Corporation
Release date
  • September 30, 1923 (1923-09-30) (U.S.)
Running time
60 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

St. Elmo is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Jerome Storm. Distributed by Fox Film Corporation, the film is based on the 1867 novel of the same name written by Augusta Jane Evans.[1][2]

Plot

[edit]

When St. Elmo Thornton catches his fiancée Agnes in the arms of his best friend Murray Hammond, he shoots Hammond and decides to travel around the world in hopes of forgetting women. Upon returning, he meets Edna, the blacksmith's daughter who is living with his minister. In the end, St. Elmo becomes a minister and marries Edna.[1]

Cast

[edit]
Lobby card of duel

Production

[edit]

During the filming of St. Elmo, John Gilbert and Barbara La Marr had an "intense sexual affair", though he was married to Leatrice Joy.[3]

A British adaptation of the same source material was made the same year.[4]

Preservation

[edit]

With no prints of St. Elmo located in any film archives,[5] it is a lost film.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "St. Elmo (1923)". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
  2. ^ Bennett, Carl (April 30, 2010). "Progressive Silent Film List: St. Elmo". Silent Era.
  3. ^ "The Legendary Barbara La Marr". Classic Images. Archived from the original on December 4, 2004. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
  4. ^ Wollstein, Hans J. (2012). "Review Summary". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
  5. ^ Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: St. Elmo
[edit]