April Folly

April Folly
April Folly
	Still with Marion Davies and Conway Tearle
Directed by	Robert Z. Leonard
Screenplay by	Adrian Johnson; Cynthia Stockley
Produced by	Marion Davies
Starring	Marion Davies; Madeline Marshall; Hattie Delaro; Amelia Summerville; Conway Tearle; J. Herbert Frank; Warren Cook
Cinematography	Allen G. Siegler
Production; companies	Marion Davies Film Corporation; Cosmopolitan Productions; International Film Service
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	March 21, 1920;
Running time	50 minutes
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

April Folly is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and written by Adrian Johnson and Cynthia Stockley. The film stars Marion Davies, Madeline Marshall, Hattie Delaro, Amelia Summerville, Conway Tearle, J. Herbert Frank, and Warren Cook. The film was released on March 21, 1920, by Paramount Pictures.^[1]^[2]

Plot

As described in a film magazine,^[3] April Poole (Davies), a young writer in love with publisher Kerry Sarle (Tearle), visits the office of Mr. Sarle and his partner Ronald Kenna (Frank) and reads her latest story to them. She has made Sarle the hero, Kenna the villain, and herself the heroine. In the story, April changes places with Lady Diana Mannister (Marshall), who is being sent to South Africa to separate her from her lover, a young artist. A famous diamond that Lady Diana is to deliver at the end of her journey is given to April. Thieves trail her during her journey. With efforts by Kenna to steal the diamond prevented by the intervention of Sarle, the story comes to a close.

Cast

Marion Davies as April Poole
Madeline Marshall as Lady Diana Mannister
Hattie Delaro as Mrs. Stanislaw
Amelia Summerville as Olive Connal
Conway Tearle as Kerry Sarle
J. Herbert Frank as Ronald Kenna
Warren Cook as Earle of Mannister
Spencer Charters as Dobbs
Charles Peyton as Butler
Agnes Neilson

Promotional contest

Cosmopolitan Productions offered a $1,000 prize for the "best short scenario suitable for Miss Davies", similar to the story in April Folly. "Write a clean, wholesome love story with an entertaining series of incidents and a good moral. Tell the story in a straightforward way -no florid writing". The contest was judged by "Marion Davies, Cosmopolitan Productions' star; William LeBaron, the distinguished playwright, and Hay Long, editor-in-chief of the International Magazine Company".^[4]^[5]

Production

In her eighth film, Marion Davies starred in this adventure film as a woman in disguise in order to deliver a fabulous diamond to its owner. The unusual narrative format has Davies as a writer named April Poole, telling her editor the story. What we see is the story she tells. The main action is framed by Davies talking with her editor. Production stalled when the original director was replaced by Robert Z. Leonard. Co-star Conway Tearle threatened to leave the project because of the extended filming time.^[6]

Status

A limited-edition DVD was released by Edward Lorusso with a music score by Ben Model in April 2017.

References

^ Janiss Garza (2015). "April-Folly - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - NYTimes.com". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
^ "April Folly". afi.com. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
^ "Reviews: The Greatest Question". Exhibitors Herald. 10 (11). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 58. March 13, 1920.
^ "RULES OF THE CONTEST". The Washington Times. Washington, DC. March 27, 1920. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
^ "$1,000 Scenario Contest". The Sun and the New York Herald. New York City. March 28, 1920. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
^ Lorusso, Edward (2017) The Silent Films of Marion Davies, CreateSpace, p. 36.