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The Acquittal
The Acquittal
	Advertisement in Universal Weekly
Directed by	Clarence Brown
Written by	Jules Furthman
Screenplay by	Raymond L. Schrock
Based on	The Acquittal; by Rita Weiman
Starring	Claire Windsor; Norman Kerry; Richard Travers; Barbara Bedford
Cinematography	Silvano Balboni
Production; company	Universal Pictures
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	1923;
Running time	7 reels
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

The Acquittal is a 1923 American silent mystery film based on the play of the same name by Rita Weiman. The film was directed by Clarence Brown, who would later start a long career at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film stars Norman Kerry, Claire Windsor, Richard Travers, and Barbara Bedford. The film was released by Universal Pictures.^[1]

Synopsis

As described in a trade magazine:^[2]

Who killed Andrew Prentice? Kenneth Winthrop is tried for the murder of his foster-father, Andrew Prentice. His foster-brother, Robert Armstrong is his accuser. Both love Madeline, who has chosen Winthrop. Armstrong alleges that Edith Craig, secretly engaged to the dead man, and Winthrop were in love, but it is not believed. Circumstantial evidence is introduced offering the time as given by a certain clock. Madeline discovers that what they took for a clock in a butcher's store window was a circular meat scale, the hand of which stays at twelve, the top of the scale, when not in use. This discovery clears her husband. A postal inspector produces a letter written on the night of the murder by Prentice, which had been stolen in a mail holdup and recovered. This letter solves the whole mystery and puts the guilt on the shoulders of Prentice, who then confesses and commits suicide. Madeline finally finds happiness with Armstrong, who has always loved her.

Cast

Claire Windsor as Madeline Ames
Norman Kerry as Robert Armstrong
Richard Travers as Kenneth Winthrop
Barbara Bedford as Edith Craig
Charles Wellesley as Andrew Prentice
Frederick Vroom as Carter Ames
Mildred Manning as Mrs. Crown
Ben Deeley as Butler
Harry Mestayer as District attorney
Emmett King as Minister
Dot Farley as Maid
Hayden Stevenson as Taxi driver

Reviews and reception

George T. Pardy wrote in the Exhibitor's Trade Review that Brown had "utilized the flashback with excellent effect in developing the evidence in the case, and right here it should be stated that the courtroom stuff, so frequently overdone and burdened with unnecessary wearisome detail where the average film is concerned, is handled with such dexterity and colorful appeal that the trial scene rivets the spectator's attention from the beginning to end".^[2] Mary Mac said of the film in the Universal Weekly, that "there's a real mystery for you to set your teeth into. You may figure yourself into delirium and you'll probably figure wrong. The picture has been excellently directed, well knit, shorn of irrelevant details, full of suspense, and building steadily and forcefully up to its climaxes".^[3]

A theater manager in Seattle, invited the prosecuting attorneys, county officials, and fifteen law students to a special screening of the film, where he passed out printed ballots for the guests to mark as to who they thought was guilty. Only 4 out of 137 guessed correctly who the murderer was.^[4]

Preservation

A print of The Acquittal is held in the Library of Congress archives in the Raymond Rohauer collection.^[5]

References

^ "Progressive Silent Film List: The Acquittal". silentera.com. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
^ ^a ^b George T. Pardy (November 3, 1923). "The Acquittal". Exhibitor's Trade Review: 1051. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
^ Mary Mac (October 1923). "The Acquittal". Universal Weekly. 18 (8): 31.
^ "Guessing The Guilty One". Exhibitor's Trade Review: 33. January 5, 1924. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
^ "Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: The Acquittal". Archived from the original on January 3, 2023.