Keys of the Righteous

Keys of the Righteous is a surviving 1918 American silent drama film directed by Jerome Storm and written by C. Gardner Sullivan. The film stars Enid Bennett, Earle Rodney, George Nichols, Josef Swickard, Karl Formes, and Gertrude Claire.^[1][2] The film was released on February 18, 1918, by Paramount Pictures.

Keys of the Righteous
Film poster
Directed by	Jerome Storm
Screenplay by	C. Gardner Sullivan
Produced by	Thomas H. Ince
Starring	Enid Bennett Earle Rodney George Nichols Josef Swickard Karl Formes Gertrude Claire
Cinematography	Charles J. Stumar
Production company	Thomas H. Ince Corporation
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	February 18, 1918 (1918-02-18)
Running time	50 minutes
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

Plot

Cast

• Enid Bennett as Mary Manning
• Earle Rodney as Tom Gale (credited as Earl Rodney)
• George Nichols as Peter Manning
• Josef Swickard as Paul Manning
• Karl Formes as John Manning (credited as Carl Formes)
• Gertrude Claire as Sarah Ann Watts
• Lydia Knott as Mrs. Manning
• Melbourne MacDowell as Judge Michael Burke

Preservation status

A print exists in the Library of Congress collection.^[3][4]

Reception

Like many American films of the time, Keys of the Righteous was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors cut, in Reel 4, the striking of man on head with cane, closeup of two men exchanging glances regarding young woman, all dance hall scenes up to time young woman is seen at table with father, man with arm around young woman at table in cabaret, stout woman talking to young woman at table with father, woman soliciting man at door of saloon, the intertitle "Leave me alone, I'm broke", Reel 5, two intertitles "A charge which if proven" etc. and "If you father was looking for you there" etc., and all scenes of woman derelicts before judge at bar.^[5]