At the Sign of the Jack O'Lantern

At the Sign of the Jack O'Lantern is a 1922 American silent comedy drama film based on the eponymous novel by Myrtle Reed. The film was directed by Lloyd Ingraham, who co-wrote the film adaption with David Kirkland.[1] It stars Betty Ross Clarke, Earl Schenck and Wade Boteler. The film is today considered lost.[2]

At the Sign of the Jack O'Lantern
Still from film (April 1922)
Directed byLloyd Ingraham
Produced byH. J. Reynolds
Screenplay byLloyd Ingraham
David Kirkland
Based onAt the Sign of the
Jack O'Lantern (novel)
by Myrtle Reed
StarringBetty Ross Clarke
Earl Schenck
Wade Boteler
CinematographyRoss Fisher
Production
company
Renco Film Co.
Distributed byW. W. Hodkinson Corporation
Release date
  • January 22, 1922 (1922-01-22)
Running time
6 reels
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

The screenplay was based on the eponymous novel by Myrtle Reed, who also wrote cookbooks under the pen name Olivia Green and committed suicide in 1911.[3]

Synopsis

Harlan Carr and his wife are left $600 and a country home called "The Jack O'Lantern" in New England by his uncle's will. The will provides that a future legacy will come to him if he lives in the estate for six months. Carr and his wife take up residence in the home, where all kinds of ghostly events take place to frighten them out. A group of guests arrive who were all disinherited relatives to his uncle, and they try to take over. They quickly make life miserable for the couple, who tolerate them and their unpleasantness only out of fear of losing the legacy. At last Harlan loses all patience and orders them from the house. Then, unexpectedly, the family lawyer informs the Carrs that having done exactly as their uncle had wished they would, they will be rewarded with the remainder of their uncle's money.[4]

Cast

Reviews and reception

A review in Moving Picture World from January 1922, said that Ingraham "has given the screen an entertaining production". The review gave positive reviews for the acting, noting that it "goes a long way toward lending plausibility to a number of events which are somewhat amazing, but which, nevertheless, are not too far fetched to seem possible".[2] A review in The Film Daily from 1922, said the story was "built up with much detail and some amusing comedy...but lacks plot and drama". The review was positive about the direction of Ingraham, stating that he "keeps things moving and handles players well".[5]

See also

References
  1. "At the Sign of the Jack O'Lantern(1922)". TCM. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  2. John T. Soister; Henry Nicolella (2012). American Silent Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Feature Films, 1913–1929. McFarland. pp. 14–16. ISBN 978-0-7864-3581-4.
  3. Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 245.ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.
  4. "At the Sign of the Jack O'Lantern". American Film Institute. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  5. "Types and Situations Make Amusing Comedy". The Film Daily. January 1922. p. 9.
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