Over the Hill to the Poorhouse

Over the Hill to the Poorhouse
Film still with Carr and her children
Directed byHarry Millarde
Written byPaul H. Sloane (scenario)
Based onpoems "Over the Hill to the Poorhouse" and "Over the Hill from the Poorhouse"
by Will Carleton
Produced byWilliam Fox
StarringMary Carr
CinematographyHal Sintzenich
George Schneiderman
Music byEdgar Allen
Maurie Rubens
Lou Klein (lyrics)
Distributed byFox Film Corporation
Release date
  • September 17, 1920 (1920-09-17)
Running time
11 reels
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)
Budget$50,000[1]
Box office$2.5 million[1]

Over the Hill to the Poorhouse, also known as Over the Hill, is a 1920 American silent drama film about a woman who has a lot of children, and who never gets the chance to enjoy life. The film starred actress Mary Carr and almost all of her real-life children.[2]

The film was directed by Harry Millarde, released by Fox Film Corporation, and was a box office success in 1920.

The story was previously filmed as Over the Hill to the Poorhouse (1908), starring Florence Auer. It was remade as Over the Hill (1931), starring Mae Marsh, and as Tears of a Mother (1937). The 1920 silent film is preserved at Bois d'Arcy in France.[3][4]

The film cost $50,00 to make with an additional $200,000 in marketing.[1]

Plot

Cast

  • Mary Carr as Ma Benton
  • James Sheridan as Child Isaac (billed as Sheridan Tansey)
  • Noel Tearle as Adult Isaac
  • Stephen Carr as Child Thomas
  • William Welsh as Pa Benton
  • Jerry Devine as Child John
  • Johnnie Walker as Adult John (billed as John Walker)
  • James Sheldon as Child Charles
  • Wallace Ray as Adult Charles
  • Rosemary Carr as Child Rebecca
  • Phyllis Diller as Adult Rebecca (this Phyllis Diller is not the TV comedian)
  • Maybeth Carr as Child Susan
  • Louella Carr as Adult Susan
  • Vivienne Osborne as Isabella Strong
  • Dorothy Allen as Agulitia
  • Edna Murphy as Lucy
  • Joseph Donohoe as Undetermined role
  • John T. Dwyer as Adult Thomas

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Big Picture Costs and Road Show Profits". Variety. March 18, 1925. p. 27. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. ^ The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: Over the Hill to the Poorhouse
  3. ^ Progressive Silent Film List: Over the Hill to the Poorhouse at silentera.com
  4. ^ The Library of Congress Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Over the Hill to the Poorhouse
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