Summary
Too Many Millions is a lost[1] 1918 American silent comedy film directed by James Cruze and written by Gardner Hunting based upon the novel by Porter Emerson Browne.[2] The film stars Wallace Reid, Ora Carew, Tully Marshall, Charles Ogle, James Neill, and Winifred Greenwood. The film was released on December 8, 1918, by Paramount Pictures.[3][4]
| Too Many Millions | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | James Cruze |
| Screenplay by | Gardner Hunting |
| Based on | Someone and Somebody by Porter Emerson Browne |
| Produced by | Jesse L. Lasky |
| Starring | Wallace Reid Ora Carew Tully Marshall Charles Ogle James Neill Winifred Greenwood |
| Cinematography | Charles Rosher |
Production company | Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 50 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
Plot edit
As described in a film magazine,[5] the Bass brothers (Beery and Williams) are unscrupulous misers while Artemus Wilkins (Marshall) is their confidential bookkeeper. The brothers are afraid that young Walsingham Van Doren (Reid), their nephew, will squander their ill-gotten gains, and on the day they propose to execute a will that will cut him off without a cent, they are both killed in an accident. Van Doren, who previously sold books door-to-door for a living, proceeds to have a good time with the $40 million left by his uncles. At an expensive New York hotel he takes a suite of rooms where he wines and dines to his hearts content, the only annoyance being having to sign for the foreclosing of mortgages that the faithful Wilkins brings. Finally Van Doren gives Wilkins a power of attorney to sign everything and the next thing he knows is that Wilkins has turned everything into cash and skipped town. He learns of his plight as Desiree Lane (Carew), whose home he has acquired as a result of foreclosing a mortgage, is demanding the return of securities belonging to her father. The two start in search of Wilkins. They are driven from a New England cottage one night by a fire and then decide to get married. They settle in the little town and are happy when Wilkins bursts in on them to return the stolen money. The film ends with an intertitle asking "Mr. Audience, what would you do?"
Cast edit
- Wallace Reid as Walsingham Van Doren
- Ora Carew as Desiree Lane
- Tully Marshall as Artemus Wilkins
- Charles Ogle as Garage Keeper
- James Neill as Mr. Lane
- Winifred Greenwood as Waitress
- Noah Beery, Sr. as R.A. Bass
- Percy G. Williams as B.A. Bass
- Ernest Pasque as Beverwyck
- Richard Wayne as Second Friend
References edit
- ^ The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Too Many Millions
- ^ Progressive Silent Film List: Too Many Millions at silentera.com
- ^ Janiss Garza (2015). "Too-Many-Millions - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - NYTimes.com". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on 11 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
- ^ "Too Many Millions". AFI. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
- ^ "Reviews: Too Many Millions". Exhibitors Herald. 7 (25). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 30. December 14, 1918.
External links edit
- Too Many Millions at IMDb
- synopsis at AllMovie
- Browne, Porter Emerson (1917), Someone and Somebody, Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill and Company, on the Internet Archive
