West of the Water Tower

West of the Water Tower
West of the Water Tower
	Lobby card
Directed by	Rollin S. Sturgeon
Written by	Lucien Hubbard (adaptation); Doris Schroeder (scenario)
Based on	West of the Water Tower; by Homer Croy
Produced by	Adolph Zukor; Jesse Lasky
Starring	Glenn Hunter; May McAvoy; Ernest Torrence; George Fawcett
Cinematography	Harry B. Harris
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	December 30, 1923 (New York City);
Running time	8 reels; 7,432 feet
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

West of the Water Tower is a 1923 American silent comedy drama film produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Rollin S. Sturgeon and is based on the novel of the same name by Homer Croy. Glenn Hunter and May McAvoy are the stars of this film.^[1]^[2]

Plot

As described in a film magazine review,^[3] Guy Plummer, the son of the small town's orthodox, narrow minded clergyman, becomes involved in a love affair with Bee Chew, the daughter of a wealthy atheist. They wed in secret through the aid of Cod Dugan, a poolroom operator. When Bee is about to become a mother, the two are unable to provide proof of the marriage. She goes away and later returns with the baby. Guy tells his father, who then admits that he, too, similarly sinned in his youth and decides to give up his pulpit. In the end, Guy wins back the favorable opinion of his neighbors, the existence of the marriage is proven, and the young couple find happiness.

Cast

Glenn Hunter as Guy Plummer
May McAvoy as Bee Chew
Ernest Torrence as Adrian Plummer
George Fawcett as Charles Chew
ZaSu Pitts as Dessie Arnhalt
Charles S. Abbe as R.N. Arnhalt (credited as Charles Abbe)
Anne Schaefer as Mrs. Plummer
Riley Hatch as Cod Dugan
Allen Baker as Ed Hoecker
Jack Terry as Harlan Thompson
Edward Elkas as Wolfe
Alice Mann as Pal
Gladys Feldman as Tootsie

Preservation

With no copies of West of the Water Tower located in any film archives,^[4] it is a lost film.

References

^ Progressive Silent Film List: West of the Water Tower at silentera.com
^ The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1921-30, The American Film Institute, c.1971
^ Pardy, George T. (January 12, 1924). "Box Office Reviews: West of the Water Tower". Exhibitors Trade Review. 15 (8). New York: Exhibitors Review Publishing Corporation: 21. Retrieved June 29, 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: West of the Water Tower

External links

West of the Water Tower at IMDb
Synopsis at AllMovie
Dust jacket cover to Croy's novel; with scene from film depicted
1923 theater showing West of the Water Tower(Wayback)
Australian long lobby poster; daybill
More accessible version of poster
Film still at the Harry Ransom Center

This article about a silent comedy-drama film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] Progressive Silent Film List: West of the Water Tower at silentera.com

[2] The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1921-30, The American Film Institute, c.1971

[3] Pardy, George T. (January 12, 1924). "Box Office Reviews: West of the Water Tower". Exhibitors Trade Review. 15 (8). New York: Exhibitors Review Publishing Corporation: 21. Retrieved June 29, 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[4] The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: West of the Water Tower

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