London (1926 film)
Encyclopedia
London is a British silent film
, directed by Herbert Wilcox
and starring Dorothy Gish
. The film was adapted by Wilcox from a short story by popular author Thomas Burke
. The British Film Institute
considers this to be a lost film
.
" silent films, pioneered by 1919's hugely successful Broken Blossoms
which starred Gish's sister Lilian. These films were set in what was then London's Chinatown
, an area which was generally perceived as dangerous, crime-ridden, decadent and immoral; as alien, impenetrable and exotic to most Londoners as if it had been on the other side of the world. Limehouse films, invariably featuring a young, beautiful and innocent English girl falling prey to shady, sinister characters who wished her ill, found a huge market both in the UK and overseas, and became an ongoing feature of 1920s silent cinema.
The Limehouse genre was as popular in the U.S. as in the UK, and with the awareness of the enormous revenue potential of the American market, London was tailored by Wilcox as a big-budget production with that audience in mind. He engaged American star Dorothy Gish for the leading role, and Gish's contract earned her £1,000 per week, an exceptional amount for its time.
), whose intentions are encouraged by the aunt. While wandering around Limehouse, she is spotted by an artist (Adelqui Migliar
) who is in the area sketching East End scenes and people. He persuades her to allow him to sketch her portrait, which he later puts on display in his West End studio. The portrait is seen by a titled Lady (Daisy Campbell), who notices a remarkable resemblance to her own daughter, now deceased.
Finally finding the attentions of the Chinese man too much, Mavis leaves her home and walks to the West End with no real idea as to what she will do when she gets there. Coincidentally, she happens to cross the path of the very Lady who noticed her portrait. She is offered a home and the chance to make her way in "society". Adapting remarkably well to her new milieu, Mavis falls in love with the Lady's nephew (John Manners), but is distraught when she is passed over in favour of another young woman (Elissa Landi
) who has had him in her sights. In her grief, she leaves her new surroundings and returns aimlessly to Limehouse. However the artist tracks her down and asks her to marry him, which she happily accepts.
The British Film Institute
does not hold a print in the BFI National Archive
, and currently classes the film as "missing, believed lost". London is included on the BFI's "75 Most Wanted
" list of missing British feature films.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
, directed by Herbert Wilcox
Herbert Wilcox
Herbert Sydney Wilcox was a British film producer and director.-Early life:Wilcox's mother was from County Cork, Ireland, but he was born in Norwood and attended school in Brighton...
and starring Dorothy Gish
Dorothy Gish
Dorothy Elizabeth Gish was an American actress, and the younger sister of actress Lillian Gish.-Early life:...
. The film was adapted by Wilcox from a short story by popular author Thomas Burke
Thomas Burke (author)
Thomas Burke was a British author. He was born in Eltham, London.His first successful publication was Limehouse Nights , a collection of stories centered around life in the poverty-stricken Limehouse district of London...
. The British Film Institute
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
considers this to be a lost film
Lost film
A lost film is a feature film or short film that is no longer known to exist in studio archives, private collections or public archives such as the Library of Congress, where at least one copy of all American films are deposited and catalogued for copyright reasons...
.
Background
London belongs in the canon of "LimehouseLimehouse
Limehouse is a place in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is on the northern bank of the River Thames opposite Rotherhithe and between Ratcliff to the west and Millwall to the east....
" silent films, pioneered by 1919's hugely successful Broken Blossoms
Broken Blossoms
Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl is a 1919 silent film directed by D.W. Griffith. It was distributed by United Artists and premiered on May 13, 1919...
which starred Gish's sister Lilian. These films were set in what was then London's Chinatown
Chinatown, London
The name Chinatown has been used at different times to describe different places in London. The present Chinatown is part of the Soho area of the City of Westminster, occupying the area in and around Gerrard Street...
, an area which was generally perceived as dangerous, crime-ridden, decadent and immoral; as alien, impenetrable and exotic to most Londoners as if it had been on the other side of the world. Limehouse films, invariably featuring a young, beautiful and innocent English girl falling prey to shady, sinister characters who wished her ill, found a huge market both in the UK and overseas, and became an ongoing feature of 1920s silent cinema.
The Limehouse genre was as popular in the U.S. as in the UK, and with the awareness of the enormous revenue potential of the American market, London was tailored by Wilcox as a big-budget production with that audience in mind. He engaged American star Dorothy Gish for the leading role, and Gish's contract earned her £1,000 per week, an exceptional amount for its time.
Plot
Mavis Hogan (Gish) lives with her uncaring aunt (Margaret Yarde) in a squalid Limehouse tenement. Her beauty attracts the attention of an unsavoury Chinese man (Gibb McLaughlinGibb McLaughlin
Gibb McLaughlin was an English film actor. He appeared in 118 films between 1921 and 1959. He was born in Sunderland, England and died in London, England.-Selected filmography:* The Road to London...
), whose intentions are encouraged by the aunt. While wandering around Limehouse, she is spotted by an artist (Adelqui Migliar
Adelqui Migliar
Adelqui Migliar , also known als Adelqui Millar, was a Chilean film actor, director, writer and producer. He appeared in 31 silent films between 1916 and 1928. He also directed 24 films between 1922 and 1954....
) who is in the area sketching East End scenes and people. He persuades her to allow him to sketch her portrait, which he later puts on display in his West End studio. The portrait is seen by a titled Lady (Daisy Campbell), who notices a remarkable resemblance to her own daughter, now deceased.
Finally finding the attentions of the Chinese man too much, Mavis leaves her home and walks to the West End with no real idea as to what she will do when she gets there. Coincidentally, she happens to cross the path of the very Lady who noticed her portrait. She is offered a home and the chance to make her way in "society". Adapting remarkably well to her new milieu, Mavis falls in love with the Lady's nephew (John Manners), but is distraught when she is passed over in favour of another young woman (Elissa Landi
Elissa Landi
Elissa Landi was an Italian born actress who was popular in Hollywood films of the 1920s and 1930s. Rumoured to be a descendant of Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, she was noted for her aristocratic bearing....
) who has had him in her sights. In her grief, she leaves her new surroundings and returns aimlessly to Limehouse. However the artist tracks her down and asks her to marry him, which she happily accepts.
Cast
- Dorothy GishDorothy GishDorothy Elizabeth Gish was an American actress, and the younger sister of actress Lillian Gish.-Early life:...
as Mavis Hogan - John Manners as Geoffrey Malvern
- Hubert Carter as Charles Down
- Gibb McLaughlinGibb McLaughlinGibb McLaughlin was an English film actor. He appeared in 118 films between 1921 and 1959. He was born in Sunderland, England and died in London, England.-Selected filmography:* The Road to London...
as Ah Kwang - Margaret Yarde as Eliza Critten
- Elissa LandiElissa LandiElissa Landi was an Italian born actress who was popular in Hollywood films of the 1920s and 1930s. Rumoured to be a descendant of Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, she was noted for her aristocratic bearing....
as Alice Cranston - Adelqui MigliarAdelqui MigliarAdelqui Migliar , also known als Adelqui Millar, was a Chilean film actor, director, writer and producer. He appeared in 31 silent films between 1916 and 1928. He also directed 24 films between 1922 and 1954....
as Paul Merlan - Daisy Campbell as Lady Arbourfield
Later history
On its release, London received generally good, albeit not outstanding, reviews. The photography and acting was praised, although the storyline was deemed unconvincing and over-reliant on coincidence. The film ran in cinemas through the first half of 1927 but then disappeared from view, and no evidence can be found that it was ever distributed again after its first run.The British Film Institute
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
does not hold a print in the BFI National Archive
BFI National Archive
The BFI National Archive is a department of the British Film Institute, and one of the largest film archives in the world. It was originally set up as the National Film Library in 1935; its first curator was Ernest Lindgren. In 1955 its name became the National Film Archive, and in 1992, the...
, and currently classes the film as "missing, believed lost". London is included on the BFI's "75 Most Wanted
BFI 75 Most Wanted
The BFI 75 Most Wanted is a list compiled by the British Film Institute of their most sought-after British feature films not currently held in the BFI National Archive, and classified as "missing, believed lost". The films chosen range from quota quickies and B-movies to lavish prestige...
" list of missing British feature films.