Hit-The-Trail Holliday is a lost[1] 1918 silent comedy film directed by Marshall Neilan and starring George M. Cohan in filmization based on his 1915 Broadway play, Hit-the-Trail-Holiday (the spelling of the play differs from the film).[2] Cohan wrote the play for his brother-in-law Fred Niblo, who was soon to become a film director.[3] Cohan produced the film in conjunction with Famous Players–Lasky.[4][5] A film about Prohibition of Alcohol, directed by one of Hollywood's then biggest alcoholics.
| Hit-The-Trail Holliday | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Marshall Neilan |
| Written by | John Emerson Anita Loos |
| Based on | Hit-the-Trail-Holiday by George M. Cohan |
| Produced by | Adolph Zukor Jesse Lasky George M. Cohan |
| Starring | George M. Cohan |
| Cinematography | Walter Stradling |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures (as Artcraft Pictures) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 50 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
Plot
editAs described in a film magazine,[6] discharged because of his refusal to sell liquor to a minor, bartender Billie Holiday (Cohan), expert mixer of drinks, seeks employment in St. Johnsburg, a small town dominated by two factions, one a German brewer, the other an American prohibitionist. Pretty Edith Jason (Clayton) strengthens Billy's leanings towards the prohibitionists, and in a rousing address he is successful in making a name for himself. Before long, accompanied by Edith who is now his wife, Billy makes a tour of various cities in an endeavor to wipe out the liquor interests.
Cast
edit- George M. Cohan as Billie Holiday
- Marguerite Clayton as Edith Jason
- Robert Broderick as Otto Wurst
- Pat O'Malley as Kent B. Wurst
- Russell Bassett as Burr Jason
- Richard Barthelmess as Bobby Jason
- William Walcott as Reverend Holden
See also
edit- The House That Shadows Built (1931 promotional film by Paramount); a possibility that the unnamed Cohan clip is from Hit-The-Trail Holliday.
- Prohibition in the United States
References
edit- ^ The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Hit-The-Trail Holliday
- ^ Hit-the-Trail-Holiday on Broadway 1915–16; 336 performances (IBDb.com)
- ^ Pictorial History of the American Theatre 1860-1970 p.153 c.1952-1970 by Daniel Blum
- ^ The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: Hit-The-Trail Holliday
- ^ "Progressive Silent Film List: Hit-The-Trail Holliday". silentera.com. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- ^ "Reviews: Hit-The-Trail Holliday". Exhibitors Herald. 7 (2). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 30. July 6, 1918.
External links
edit
 | This 1910s comedy film–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |