Poisoned Paradise: The Forbidden Story of Monte Carlo

1924 film by Louis J. Gasnier

  • February 29, 1924 (1924-02-29)
Running time
70 minutes; 7 reelsCountryUnited StatesLanguageSilent (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]

References

  1. ^ a b Progressive Silent Film List: Poisoned Paradise: The Forbidden Story of Monte Carlo at silentera.com
  2. ^ The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: Poisoned Paradise: The Forbidden Story of Monte Carlo
  3. ^ Sloane, Henriette (March 15, 1924). "Box Office Reviews: Poisoned Paradise". Exhibitors Trade Review. New York: Exhibitors Review Publishing Corporation: 27. Retrieved October 3, 2022. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Poisoned Paradise: The Forbidden Story of Monte Carlo
  5. ^ "Poisoned paradise : the forbidden story of Monte Carlo / Preferred Pictures ; presented by B.P. Schulberg ; director, Louis Gasnier ; scenario, Waldemar Young". search.library.ucla.edu. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Poisoned Paradise: The Forbidden Story of Monte Carlo.
  • Poisoned Paradise at IMDb
  • Synopsis at AllMovie
  • Lobby posters: #1[permanent dead link], #2, #3
  • Robert W. Service, Poisoned Paradise; a Romance of Monte Carlo, New York : A. L. Burt Co., 1922 (1924 photoplay edition)
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