Poisoned Paradise: The Forbidden Story of Monte Carlo

Poisoned Paradise: The Forbidden Story of Monte Carlo
Poisoned Paradise: The Forbidden Story of Monte Carlo
	Lobby card
Directed by	Louis J. Gasnier
Written by	Waldemar Young
Based on	Poisoned Paradise; a Romance of Monte Carlo; by Robert W. Service
Produced by	B. P. Schulberg
Starring	Kenneth Harlan; Clara Bow
Cinematography	Karl Struss
Distributed by	Al Lichtman Productions; Preferred Pictures
Release date	February 29, 1924;
Running time	70 minutes; 7 reels
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

Poisoned Paradise: The Forbidden Story of Monte Carlo is a 1924 American silent romantic drama film directed by Louis Gasnier and starring Kenneth Harlan and Clara Bow. B. P. Schulberg, Bow's new mentor at the time, produced the picture.^[2]

Plot

As described in a film magazine review,^[3] Margot Le Blanc, left a small fortune by her foster mother, goes to Monte Carlo and loses it all gambling. When she is falling into the hands of a scheming thief, she meets Hugh Kildair, an artist that lives in the same house. After hearing her story, he suggests that she become his housekeeper under an arrangement where they shall live together as brother and sister, to which she agrees. Later, Hugh falls into a trap set by a gang of thieves involving their accomplice Mrs. Belmire. The aim of the gang is to force Hugh to reveal a cipher system entrusted to him by old Professor Durand. The plans of the gang are foiled by the arrival of the police. This experience has opened Hugh's eyes to the fact that he loves Margot, who has loved him all along. They are married without delay and return home this time as husband and wife.

Cast

Kenneth Harlan as Hugh Kildair / Gilbert Kildair
Clara Bow as Margot Le Blanc
Carmel Myers as Mrs. Belmire
Raymond Griffith as Martel, The Rat
Barbara Tennant as Mrs. G. Kildair
Josef Swickard as Professor Durand
George Beranger as Krantz (credited as Andre de Beranger)
Evelyn Selbie as Madame Tanquille
Victor Varconi as Dr. Berqius (credited as Michael Varconi)
Frankie Lee as Hugh Kildair, as a Child
Peaches Jackson as Margot LeBlanc, as a Child
Betsy Ann Hisle as Little Girl Feeding Pigeons (uncredited)
Laura La Varnie as Concierge (uncredited)
Rolfe Sedan as Onlooker at Roulette Table (uncredited)

Preservation

A 35mm nitrate print of Poisoned Paradise is held in the UCLA Film and Television Archive. However, it only contains 5 reels of 7 total due to nitrate deterioration. Some elements of the film were lost, but "stills were used to fill in the visuals".^[1]^[4]^[5]