Is BEVERLY OF GRUASTARK (1926) Complete?

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:52 pm

So does anyone here know if Marion Davies 1926 feature BEVERLY OF GRAUSTARK exists in it's full length form? Specifically, the Opening reel, or at least the opening few minutes may be missing? Is this part of the reason that the film is rarely ever seen at festivals, and has not been scored by TCM? There is not even a synopsis on the TCM Movie Data Base. Rather disappointing. Would appreciate any information. Thanks.

drednm · Post by **drednm** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:37 pm

Jeff, this was on Silent Era website....

Beverly of Graustark
(1926) American
Color/B&W : Seven reels / [?] 6627, 6710 or 6977? feet
Directed by Sidney Franklin

Cast: Marion Davies [Beverly Calhoun], Antonio Moreno [Danton], Creighton Hale [Prince Oscar], Roy D’Arcy [General Marlanx], Albert Gran [Duke Travina], Paulette Duval [Caslotta], Max Barwyn [Saranoff], Charles Clary [Mr. Calhoun]

[?] Cosmopolitan Pictures Corporation or Cosmopolitan Productions? production; distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation. / Produced by Irving Thalberg. Scenario by Agnes Christine Johnston, from the novel Beverly of Graustark by George Barr McCutcheon. Art direction by Cedric Gibbons and Richard Day. Costume design by Kathleen Key, Maude Marsh and André-ani. Cinematography by Percy Hilburn. Intertitles by Joe Farnham (Joseph Farnham). Edited by Frank Hull. / © 5 April 1926 by Cosmopolitan Productions [[LP22562]. Released 22 March 1926. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.37:1 format. Technicolor two-strip color process sequence. / MGM production number 253. MGM release number 612. The final sequence was presented in Technicolor. This film was the most profitable of all Davies’ films.

Comedy-Drama.

Survival Status: Print exists in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists film archive.

Of course it's hard to say what we have. Even this info is a little vague on number of reels and overall footage.

On IMDb it says:

Film length (metres)
2126.60 m (7 reels) (USA)

and my copy is 76 minutes.

It doesn't seem to me that there's anything missing from the beginning of the film..... why do you think so? Actually IMDb lists the runtime at 70 minutes.

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:47 pm

Ed,

There are no opening credits and the film is already underway from what I can see? No real intro of characters. I appreciate the response, just was looking to see if anyone had seen a print at a festival or live screening. Apparently not? Disappointed that no one else has said anything. I guess Silent Era doesn't say anything about missing footage though?

Likewise discouraged that people haven't looked at two or three of my others posts. Especially, the photo of Bessie, Corinne and Colleen together which I hope to find a better version of someplace. That is why I asked about it here.

drednm · Post by **drednm** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 10:21 pm

Jeff my copy has opening credits. The first title card is something about the Davies character coming home from college. The first scene is Davies in a cab.

It seems intact to me.

drednm · Post by **drednm** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 10:26 pm

The opening card, after all the credits reads:

Washington, DC... 3 pm... Beverly Calhoun returning from finishing school ... unfinished... unexpected.... reason?

The scene fades to Davies rushing into the house and told her father and cousin are in the library with emissaries from Graustark.

The Silent Era info mentions color.... my copy is all B&W.

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 10:38 pm

Ed,

Apparently, BEVERLY OF GRAUSTARK general release in March of 1926 was Marion's only film that year? Though most of THE RED MILL was probably shot that year and it may have had a premier? Haven't seen anything about Technicolor, but there definitely was color footage in LIGHTS OF OLD BROADWAY, no question about that.

rudyfan · Post by **rudyfan** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 10:53 pm

Gagman 66 wrote:Ed,

Likewise discouraged that people haven't looked at two or three of my others posts. Especially, the photo of Bessie, Corinne and Colleen together which I hope to find a better version of someplace. That is why I asked about it here.

Have you checked Moore's autobio, Silent Star, it might have been in there. I honestly can't recall, it's been a while since I picked up her book.

Otherwise might be in one of the Colleen Moore collector's collections or the collection at the Herrick.

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:03 pm

rudyfan,

I haven't seen the book in a long, long time. Our Library used to have a copy back in the 80's. Is the Herrick collection on-line anyplace or some of it?

rudyfan · Post by **rudyfan** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:15 pm

Gagman 66 wrote:rudyfan,

I haven't seen the book in a long, long time. Our Library used to have a copy back in the 80's. Is the Herrick collection on-line anyplace or some of it?

No, the Herrick collection is massive, many thousands of photos from all eras. I'd check Silent Star first. I do not seem to have a copy any longer, or it's tucked in one of the 3 remaining boxes of books still unpacked.

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:22 pm

Rudyfan, Anyone,

Thanks. Here is the Photo again as I posted it that other night. As you can see this is a pretty low resolution graphic.

Bessie Love, Corinne Griffith, and Colleen Moore

Incidentally, who is this on this on the old Photoplay Magazine cover? Appears to be labeled as Constance Talmadge, but looks more like a pre-bobbed Colleen Moore to me?

Unknown Beauty

Harold Aherne · Post by **Harold Aherne** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:45 pm

It's Dorothy Phillips on the May 1921 cover.

Speaking of Photoplay, some good resources if you're building a database of the ones you own or if you're simply curious:

A Photoplay cover checklist spanning 1912-1940, which isn't quite complete but still useful.

A large gallery of covers. Don't be put off by the URL--it looks like some decent work went into creating these pages. That, or decent Ebay swiping.

-Harold

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 12:00 am

Harold,

Well, this is Colleen Moore looking a great deal like Dorothy Philips. What a darling girl she was.

Wow! Thanks for the Photoplay link. That will be really helpful!

Precious Colleen, Remarkable Beauty Portrait-1922