Jack Straw (1920 film)

Jack Straw is a 1920 American silent comedy film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. William C. deMille directed the film and Robert Warwick and Carroll McComas star. The film is based on a 1908 stage play by W. Somerset Maugham starring John Drew and a young Mary Boland. Winston Churchill made a cameo appearance in the original film. In 1926 Paramount attempted a remake of this film called The Waiter from the Ritz which was begun and/or completed but never released. James Cruze directed and Raymond Griffith starred; this film, if completed, is now lost. The 1920 film survives at the Library of Congress.[1][2][3]

Jack Straw
Newspaper ad for the film.
Directed byWilliam C. deMille
Produced byAdolph Zukor
Jesse Lasky
Written byOlga Printzlau (scenario)
Elmer Harris (scenario)
Based onJack Straw
by W. Somerset Maugham
StarringRobert Warwick
Carroll McComas
CinematographyL. Guy Wilky
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • March 14, 1920 (1920-03-14)
Running time
5 reels; 4,707 feet
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

Plot

Based upon a review of the plot in a film publication,[4] Jack Straw (Warwick) is an iceman who becomes a waiter to be closer to the girl (McComas) he is interested in. Later, to impress her, he impersonates an Archduke from Pomerania. A Count from Pomerania (Brower) who is the ambassador arrives and learns of the long-missing son of royalty. The girl's mother (Ashton) learns of the trick being played by Jack. Just when Jack is exposed as being a fraud, it turns out that he is the genuine article. The girl's mother then gladly announces her daughter's engagement to Jack.

Cast

unbilled

References
  1. Progressive Silent Film List: Jack Straw at silentera.com
  2. Jack Straw presented as a play on Broadway by Charles Frohman at the Empire Theatre, September 14, 1908 to December 1908; IBDb.com
  3. The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Jack Straw
  4. "Jack Straw: Obvious Light Comedy Has Amusing Moments". Motion Picture News. New York City: Motion Picture News, Inc. 21 (16): 3365. April 10, 1920. Retrieved February 21, 2014.


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