Up and at 'Em
Encyclopedia
Up and at 'Em is a 1922 American black-and-white comedy romance silent film
directed by William A. Seiter
, written by Eve Unsell
with a story by Lewis Milestone
and William A. Seiter, starring Doris May, Hallam Cooley
, and J. Herbert Frank
.
After having directed films for the U.S. Signal Corps during World War I, Lewis Milestone traveled to California to work in the film industry. Collaborating with director William A. Seiter on the script, Up and at 'Em marks his first Hollywood screenplay.
The film also marks the first screen role for actor Eddie Quillan
. When he and his four siblings were touring California as part of the Vaudeville
Orpheum Circuit, his father had submitted the 5 children for auditions at Keystone Studios
. After viewing the audition footage, Mack Sennett
was so impressed with that of Eddie, that he hired detectives to track down the traveling family. Eddie Quillan was signed to contract in 1922, and Up and at 'Em was his very first film.
The film had theatrical release August 16, 1922. It is unknown if any copies of this film survive.
), but it develops that passenger is part of a team of crooks who are planning to rob Bob Everett (Hallam Cooley
), a rival of her father, of his precious artworks. Believing her to be an undercover detective, the bandit forces her to take part in the robbery and then abandons her to be caught by Everett. After convincing Everett that she was a forced accomplice and not the real thief, the two hurry to meet up with Barbara's father, William Jackson (Otis Harlan
). He had just purchased one of the paintings from an art dealer (Harry Carter
), and the dealer had left moments before Barbara and Everett arrive. As the two explain the deception, William informs him that he became suspicious when recognizing the painting as one owned by Everett and that he had the dealer held at the front gate. The police arrive round up the crooks.
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 William A. Seiter
William A. Seiter
William A. Seiter was an American film director. He was born in New York City. After attending Hudson River Military Academy, Seiter broke into films in 1915 as a bit player at Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios, doubling a cowboy...
, written by Eve Unsell
Eve Unsell
Eve Unsell , was an American screenwriter. She wrote for 96 films between 1914 and 1933.She was born in Chicago, Illinois and died in Hollywood, California.-Selected filmography:* The Test of Honor...
with a story by Lewis Milestone
Lewis Milestone
Lewis Milestone was a Russian-American motion picture director. He is known for directing Two Arabian Knights and All Quiet on the Western Front , both of which received Academy Awards for Best Director...
and William A. Seiter, starring Doris May, Hallam Cooley
Hallam Cooley
Hallam Cooley was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 106 films between 1913 and 1936.He was born in Brooklyn, New York and died in Tiburon, California.-Selected filmography:*Bull's Eye...
, and J. Herbert Frank
J. Herbert Frank
J. Herbert Frank was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 52 films between 1914 and 1924.He was born in New York, New York and died in Los Angeles, California by committing suicide.-Selected filmography:...
.
After having directed films for the U.S. Signal Corps during World War I, Lewis Milestone traveled to California to work in the film industry. Collaborating with director William A. Seiter on the script, Up and at 'Em marks his first Hollywood screenplay.
The film also marks the first screen role for actor Eddie Quillan
Eddie Quillan
Edward "Eddie" Quillan was an American film actor whose career began as a child on the vaudeville stages and silent film and continued through the age of television in the 1980s.-Vaudeville and silent films:...
. When he and his four siblings were touring California as part of the Vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
Orpheum Circuit, his father had submitted the 5 children for auditions at Keystone Studios
Keystone Studios
Keystone Studios was an early movie studio founded in Edendale, California in 1912 as the Keystone Pictures Studio by Mack Sennett with backing from Adam Kessel and Charles O. Bauman, owners of the New York Motion Picture Company...
. After viewing the audition footage, Mack Sennett
Mack Sennett
Mack Sennett was a Canadian-born American director and was known as the innovator of slapstick comedy in film. During his lifetime he was known at times as the "King of Comedy"...
was so impressed with that of Eddie, that he hired detectives to track down the traveling family. Eddie Quillan was signed to contract in 1922, and Up and at 'Em was his very first film.
The film had theatrical release August 16, 1922. It is unknown if any copies of this film survive.
Plot
Wishing to drive her father's car, Barbara Jackson (Doris May) dresses up in the chauffeur's uniform and sneaks out. For a lark, she picks up a passenger (John GoughJohn Gough
Brigadier General Sir John Edmond Gough VC, KCB, CMG , known as Johnnie Gough, was born in Muree, India and was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Background:Gough,...
), but it develops that passenger is part of a team of crooks who are planning to rob Bob Everett (Hallam Cooley
Hallam Cooley
Hallam Cooley was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 106 films between 1913 and 1936.He was born in Brooklyn, New York and died in Tiburon, California.-Selected filmography:*Bull's Eye...
), a rival of her father, of his precious artworks. Believing her to be an undercover detective, the bandit forces her to take part in the robbery and then abandons her to be caught by Everett. After convincing Everett that she was a forced accomplice and not the real thief, the two hurry to meet up with Barbara's father, William Jackson (Otis Harlan
Otis Harlan
-Biography:Harlan was born in Zanesville, Ohio in 1865. He married Nellie Harvey and had a daughter named Marion. Harlan was the uncle of silent actor Kenneth Harlan.-Career:...
). He had just purchased one of the paintings from an art dealer (Harry Carter
Harry Carter
Harry Carter was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 84 films between 1914 and 1933.He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:...
), and the dealer had left moments before Barbara and Everett arrive. As the two explain the deception, William informs him that he became suspicious when recognizing the painting as one owned by Everett and that he had the dealer held at the front gate. The police arrive round up the crooks.
Cast
- Doris May as Barbara Jackson
- Hallam CooleyHallam CooleyHallam Cooley was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 106 films between 1913 and 1936.He was born in Brooklyn, New York and died in Tiburon, California.-Selected filmography:*Bull's Eye...
as Bob Everett - J. Herbert FrankJ. Herbert FrankJ. Herbert Frank was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 52 films between 1914 and 1924.He was born in New York, New York and died in Los Angeles, California by committing suicide.-Selected filmography:...
as Carlos Casinelli - Otis HarlanOtis Harlan-Biography:Harlan was born in Zanesville, Ohio in 1865. He married Nellie Harvey and had a daughter named Marion. Harlan was the uncle of silent actor Kenneth Harlan.-Career:...
as William Jackson - Clarissa Selwynne as Jane Jackson
- John GoughJohn GoughBrigadier General Sir John Edmond Gough VC, KCB, CMG , known as Johnnie Gough, was born in Muree, India and was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Background:Gough,...
as Crook - Harry CarterHarry CarterHarry Carter was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 84 films between 1914 and 1933.He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:...
as Crook - Eddie QuillanEddie QuillanEdward "Eddie" Quillan was an American film actor whose career began as a child on the vaudeville stages and silent film and continued through the age of television in the 1980s.-Vaudeville and silent films:...
as
External links
- Up and at 'Em at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Up and at 'Em at the Allrovi