The Willow Tree is a surviving 1920 American silent film directed by Henry Otto and distributed by Metro Pictures. The film is based on a Broadway play, The Willow Tree, by J. H. Benrimo and Harrison Rhodes. Fay Bainter starred in the Broadway play in 1917. The film stars Viola Dana and is preserved in the George Eastman House Motion Picture Collection.[1][2][3]
| The Willow Tree | |
|---|---|
 Advertisement for film | |
| Directed by | Henry Otto |
| Written by | June Mathis (adaptation, scenario) |
| Based on | The Willow Tree by J. H. Benrimo and Harrison Rhodes |
| Produced by | Screen Classics Incorporated Maxwell Karger |
| Starring | Viola Dana |
| Cinematography | John Arnold |
| Distributed by | Metro Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 6 reels |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
Plot
editAs described in a film magazine,[4] O-Riu (Dana), daughter of a Japanese image-maker, rebels at his command that she marry a wealthy merchant in order to provide funds for her brother to attend an American college. Due to a coincidence, her flight is misinterpreted as a suicide, and her father sells to an Englishman living in the neighborhood his most prized image. Seeking refuge, O-Riu poses as the image and then "comes to life" apparently by magic. The Englishman falls in love with her and will not answer his country's call to arms until she has apparently disappeared. While he is away for four years, she lives at his home. When he returns after the war, they find happiness. The film has a parallel story concerning Japanese legends.
Cast
edit- Viola Dana as O-Riu
- Edward Connelly as Tomotada
- Pell Trenton as Ned Hamilton
- Harry Dunkinson as Jeoffrey Fuller
- Alice Wilson as Mary Fuller
- Frank Tokunaga as John Charles Goto
- Togo Yamamoto as Itomudo
- George Kuwa as Kimura
- Tom Ricketts as Priest
- Yutaka Abe as Nogo
References
edit- ^ "Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List". Silentera.com. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
- ^ The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1911-20 by The American Film Institute, c.1988
- ^ League, The Broadway. "The Willow Tree – Broadway Play – Original - IBDB". Ibdb.com. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
- ^ "Reviews: The Willow Tree". Exhibitors Herald. 10 (8). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 75. February 21, 1920.
External links
edit
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