Origin of the OUTSIDE THE LAW movie story?

Darren Nemeth · Post by **Darren Nemeth** » Sun Jul 07, 2019 7:23 pm

I have the 1926 novelization of Outside The Law (1920) starring Lon Chaney and found this info about a 1908 dime novel.

"....Label on plastic envelope indicates it is basis of the Tod Browning 1920 film of this name, which he authored, starring Lon Chaney..."

"Outside the Law" dime novel from The New York Detective / American Detective series published by the Arthur Westbrook Company, 1908.

Anyone know if this is factual or a book dealer mistake?

MaryGH · Post by **MaryGH** » Sun Jul 07, 2019 8:57 pm

Probably the best way to tell is to see a copy of the original story. But here is some background information:

The New York Detective; or, Startling Phases of City Life:
Appeared in Old Sleuth Library — no. 15, September 28, 1885

Also appeared in Old Sleuth Weekly — no. 22, November 27, 1908

https://dimenovels.org/Item/3355/Show

...............................

Examples of the publication Old Sleuth Weekly, digitized:

https://digital.library.villanova.edu/I ... =AllFields

If Villanova had #22 it would be in there but is not. They don't have a copy of Old Sleuth Library #15 available either.

Darren Nemeth · Post by **Darren Nemeth** » Tue Jul 09, 2019 10:33 am

Thank you.

Rodney · Post by **Rodney** » Fri Aug 02, 2019 2:56 pm

There is a good essay on this film from the 2017 San Francisco Silent Film Festival, but it doesn’t talk at all about the source, other than sort of implying that Tod Browning came up with the story.

Michael F. Blake · Post by **Michael F. Blake** » Fri Aug 02, 2019 6:27 pm

I never found anything stating there was any source material.

Origin of the OUTSIDE THE LAW movie story?

Origin of the OUTSIDE THE LAW movie story?

Re: Origin of the OUTSIDE THE LAW movie story?

Re: Origin of the OUTSIDE THE LAW movie story?

Re: Origin of the OUTSIDE THE LAW movie story?

Re: Origin of the OUTSIDE THE LAW movie story?