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The Monkey's Paw (1923 film)

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The Monkey's Paw
Directed byManning Haynes
Written byLydia Hayward
Louis N. Parker (play)
Based on"The Monkey's Paw"
by W. W. Jacobs
Produced byGeorge Redman
StarringMoore Marriott
Marie Ault
Charles Ashton
Production
company
Artistic Pictures
Distributed byArtistic Pictures
Selznick Pictures
Release date
  • February 1923 (1923-02)
Running time
64 minutes[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

The Monkey's Paw is a 1923 British silent horror film directed by Manning Haynes and starring Moore Marriott, Marie Ault, and Charles Ashton. It is an adaptation of W. W. Jacobs's 1902 short story "The Monkey's Paw". The short story was made into a 1907 one-act play by Louis N. Parker, elements of which were also incorporated into this 1923 British film by screenwriter Lydia Hayward.[1][2]

Plot

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As described in a film magazine review for an American audience,[3] a traveller tells a family, John White, his wife, and son, weird tales of a magical talisman, a monkey's paw, which has the power of granting its possessor three wishes, but only with hellish consequences as punishment for tampering with fate. The father falls asleep. In his dreams he acquires the paw and requests two thousand dollars. He gets the money but this results in the death of his son Herbert. His wife compels him to wish that her boy was alive again. This is accomplished, but when he appears as a soulless zombie, in his fright Mr. White makes his third and final wish that his son be dead once more, where he may hopefully rest in peace. Awakening, the father wants nothing to do with the magic charm.

Cast

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Production

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The film was shot in England,[4] partially at Bushey Studios.[5] The original film print was five reels long.[4]

The May 5th issue of Motion Picture News reported that the Selznik Distributing Corporation had purchased the United States and Australian rights to the film.[6]

Reception

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Frank Elliot of Motion Picture News called the film "An unusual little tale" and "fairly satisfying." He praised the unusual plot development, directing, and acting.[4]

The Princess Theatre in Waterbury, Connecticut wrote a less positive report to the Exhibitors Herald about the audience reactions, saying: "Some said 'Terrible'... The 'Yessers' tried to be nice, but wouldn't commit themselves."[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era. Midnight Marquee Press. p. 265. ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.
  2. ^ Goble p. 241
  3. ^ Pardy, George T. (12 January 1924). "Box Office Reviews: The Monkey's Paw". Exhibitors Trade Review. 15 (8). New York: Exhibitors Review Publishing Corporation: 21. Retrieved 29 June 2022. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ a b c Elliott, Frank (22 December 1923). "The Monkey's Paw". Motion Picture News. Vol. XXVIII, no. 25. New York City. p. 2901. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  5. ^ "British Studio Gossip: Some Interesting "Futures"". Pictures and the Picturegoer. Vol. 5, no. 26. London. February 1923. p. 27. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Selznick Gets "Monkey's Paw"". Motion Picture News. Vol. XXVII, no. 18. New York City. 5 May 1923. p. 2196. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  7. ^ Princess Theatre (13 October 1923). "Selznick: The Monkey's Paw". Exhibitors Herald. Vol. XVII, no. 16. Chicago. p. 75. Retrieved 14 May 2024.

Bibliography

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  • Goble, Alan. The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter, 1999.
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