In the Heart of a Fool
- October 1920 (1920-10)
In the Heart of a Fool is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Allan Dwan.[1] It is based on a novel by William Allen White.[2]
Plot
As described in a film magazine,[3] in a small town lives Dr. Harvey Nesbit (Burton), who knows of the scandals of the community. His daughter Laura (Thurman) loves Grant Adams (Kirkwood), the editor of the local newspaper. Margaret Muller (Nilsson) arrives in town to teach at the school and takes lodging at Grant's mother's house. She desires to dethrone Laura as a social leader, and decides to use Grant to obtain her desire. Laura, to arouse Grant's jealousy, flirts with another man, and they quarrel. Laura returns to her boarding school, and when she returns after her term she discovers Margaret as the mother of Grant's illegitimate child. Grant's mother, to shield Margaret's reputation, assumes the parentage of the child. As Dr. Nesbit knows differently, this places a barrier between him and his daughter. Grant's mother dies and with Margaret, in pursuit of Henry Fenn (Crane), a young lawyer, refuses to mother her child. Fenn's partner Tom VanDorn (McCullough) marries Laura, and Fenn marries Margaret. Eventually Laura's husband succumbs to Margaret's wiles, their affair leading to the divorce of Fenn and Laura from the guilty couple. Grant quits his paper to become foreman at a coal mine. A terrific explosion happens and, while attempting to rescue his men, Grant is badly injured. He is taken to Dr. Nesbit's home and Laura, tired of VanDorn, arrives at the same time. She nurses him back to health and the fires of love are rekindled. They decide to work to better the condition of the miners, but the issue of Grant's parentage remains a barrier between them. A strike is called and "Hog Tight" Sands, the owner of the mine, engages a horde of strike breakers to run Grant out of town. In the melee VanDorn holds up Grant's little son as a threat to make Grant give himself up, and the child is shot. Margaret then hates VanDorn and kills him, and then goes insane. On the deathbed of the child Grant confesses to Laura that the child is his, admitting this was a barrier between them. They come to an understanding and happiness.
Cast
- James Kirkwood Sr. as Grant Adams
- Anna Q. Nilsson as Margaret Muller
- Mary Thurman as Laura Nesbit
- Philo McCullough as Tom VanDorn
- Ward Crane as Henry Fenn
- John Burton as Dr. Harvey Nesbit
- Margaret Campbell as Mrs. Nesbit
- Percy Challenger as Daniel Sands
- Arthur Hoyt as Mortie Sands
- Harold Miller
- Claire Windsor
Preservation status
The film is currently lost.[4]
References
- ^ Carolyn Lowrey (1920). The First One Hundred Noted Men and Women of the Screen. Moffat, Yard. p. 48.
- ^ Jessen, Kenneth (July 17, 2015). "William Allen White cabin preserved in Rocky Mountain National Park". Reporter-Herald. Loveland, Colorado.
- ^ "Reviews: In the Heart of a Fool". Exhibitors Herald. 11 (17). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 91. October 23, 1920.
- ^ The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: In the Heart of a Fool
External links
- In the Heart of a Fool at IMDb
- Lobby cards and stills at Claire Windsor weebly.com
- Still with Mary Thurman at gettyimages.com
- Still with Mary Thurman and James Kirkwood at silentfilmstillarchive.com
- v
- t
- e
- Woman's Honor (1913)
- Calamity Anne's Vanity (1913)
- Quicksands (1913)
- The Greater Love (1913)
- Her Big Story (1913)
- The Restless Spirit (1913)
- Back to Life (1913)
- Red Margaret, Moonshiner (1913)
- Bloodhounds of the North (1913)
- The Lie (1914)
- The Honor of the Mounted (1914)
- Remember Mary Magdalen (1914)
- Discord and Harmony (1914)
- The Menace to Carlotta (1914)
- The Embezzler (1914)
- The Lamb, the Woman, the Wolf (1914)
- The End of the Feud (1914)
- The Tragedy of Whispering Creek (1914)
- The Unlawful Trade (1914)
- The Forbidden Room (1914)
- The Hopes of Blind Alley (1914)
- Richelieu (1914)
- The Unwelcome Mrs. Hatch (1914)
- Wildflower (1914)
- The County Chairman (1914)
- The Straight Road (1914)
- The Conspiracy (1914)
- The Dancing Girl (1915)
- A Small Town Girl (1915)
- David Harum (1915)
- The Love Route (1915)
- The Commanding Officer (1915)
- May Blossom (1915)
- The Pretty Sister of Jose (1915)
- A Girl of Yesterday (1915)
- Jordan Is a Hard Road (1915)
- The Habit of Happiness (1916)
- The Good Bad-Man (1916)
- An Innocent Magdalene (1916)
- Manhattan Madness (1916)
- Fifty-Fifty (1916)
- Accusing Evidence (1916)
- Fighting Odds (1917)
- A Modern Musketeer (1917)
- Panthea (1917)
- Headin' South (1918)
- Mr. Fix-It (1918)
- Bound in Morocco (1918)
- He Comes Up Smiling (1918)
- Cheating Cheaters (1919)
- Soldiers of Fortune (1919)
- The Luck of the Irish (1920)
- The Scoffer (1920)
- The Forbidden Thing (1920)
- A Splendid Hazard (1920)
- A Perfect Crime (1921)
- The Sin of Martha Queed (1921)
- A Broken Doll (1921)
- The Hidden Woman (1922)
- Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood (1922)
- Lawful Larceny (1923)
- Zaza (1923)
- Big Brother (1923)
- A Society Scandal (1924)
- Manhandled (1924)
- Her Love Story (1924)
- Wages of Virtue (1924)
- Argentine Love (1924)
- The Coast of Folly (1925)
- Night Life of New York (1925)
- Stage Struck (1925)
- Sea Horses (1926)
- Padlocked (1926)
- Tin Gods (1926)
- Summer Bachelors (1926)
- The Music Master (1927)
- The Joy Girl (1927)
- East Side, West Side (1927)
- French Dressing (1927)
- The Big Noise (1928)
- The Iron Mask (1929)
- Tide of Empire (1929)
- The Far Call (1929)
- Frozen Justice (1929)
- South Sea Rose (1929)
- What a Widow! (1930)
- Man to Man (1930)
- Chances (1931)
- Wicked (1931)
- While Paris Sleeps (1932)
- Her First Affaire (1932)
- Counsel's Opinion (1933)
- I Spy (1934)
- Black Sheep (1935)
- Navy Wife (1935)
- Song and Dance Man (1936)
- Human Cargo (1936)
- High Tension (1936)
- 15 Maiden Lane (1936)
- Woman-Wise (1937)
- That I May Live (1937)
- One Mile from Heaven (1937)
- Heidi (1937)
- Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1938)
- Suez (1938)
- Josette (1938)
- The Three Musketeers (1939)
- The Gorilla (1939)
- Frontier Marshal (1939)
- Sailor's Lady (1940)
- Young People (1940)
- Trail of the Vigilantes (1940)
- Look Who's Laughing (1941)
- Rise and Shine (1941)
- Friendly Enemies (1942)
- Here We Go Again (1942)
- Around the World (1943)
- Abroad with Two Yanks (1944)
- Up in Mabel's Room (1944)
- Brewster's Millions (1945)
- Getting Gertie's Garter (1945)
- Rendezvous with Annie (1946)
- Calendar Girl (1947)
- Northwest Outpost (1947)
- Driftwood (1947)
- The Inside Story (1948)
- Angel in Exile (1948)
- Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)
- Surrender (1950)
- Belle Le Grand (1951)
- The Wild Blue Yonder (1951)
- I Dream of Jeanie (1952)
- Montana Belle (1952)
- Woman They Almost Lynched (1953)
- Sweethearts on Parade (1953)
- Flight Nurse (1953)
- Silver Lode (1954)
- Passion (1954)
- Cattle Queen of Montana (1954)
- Escape to Burma (1955)
- Pearl of the South Pacific (1955)
- Tennessee's Partner (1955)
- Slightly Scarlet (1956)
- Hold Back the Night (1956)
- The River's Edge (1957)
- The Restless Breed (1957)
- Enchanted Island (1958)
- Most Dangerous Man Alive (1961)