Lorna Doone (1922 film)

Lorna Doone is a 1922 American silent drama film based upon Richard Doddridge Blackmore's 1869 novel of the same name.^[1] Directed by French director Maurice Tourneur in the United States, the film starred Madge Bellamy and John Bowers.^[2]

Lorna Doone
Poster
Directed by	Maurice Tourneur
Written by	Katherine S. Reed Cecil G. Mumford Maurice Tourneur Wyndham Gittens
Based on	Lorna Doone by Richard Doddridge Blackmore
Produced by	Maurice Tourneur Thomas H. Ince
Starring	Madge Bellamy John Bowers Frank Keenan Jack McDonald
Cinematography	Henry Sharp
Music by	Mari Iijima (2001 remaster)
Distributed by	Associated First National Pictures
Release dates	October 1, 1922 (1922-10-01) (Cleveland) December 3, 1922 (1922-12-03) (New York City)
Running time	7 reels
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

Lorna Doone (1922)

This is one of many film adaptations of the novel. It was filmed twice before in 1912 in England for Clarendon, and in 1915 for the American Biograph Company.^[3] Other later adaptations include 1934 and 1951 films, and 1990 and 2001 television movies.

Cast

Madge Bellamy as Lorna Doone, a role which, according to Allmovie, "helped bring her stardom."^[2]

• Madge Bellamy as Lorna Doone
• Mae Giraci as Lorna as a Child (credited as Mae Giracci)
• John Bowers as John Ridd
• Charles Hatton as John as a Child
• Frank Keenan as Sir Ensor Doone
• Jack McDonald as Counsellor Doone (credited as Jack MacDonald)
• Donald McDonald as Carver Doone
• Norris Johnson as Ruth, John's Cousin
• Gertrude Astor as Countess of Brandir (uncredited)
• James Robert Chandler as Frye (uncredited)
• Irene De Voss as Lorna's Mother (uncredited)
• Joan Standing as Gwenny Carfax (uncredited)

Restoration

In 2001 a digital restoration of the film was financed by Georgia cinephile Jesse Sharp and released on DVD by Kino International. Japanese singer/songwriter Mari Iijima composed an all-new musical score for the film.^[4]

Critical reception

In a contemporary review, Variety wrote, "Madge Bellamy has just the right wistful quality of beauty for Lorna...the histrionic honors, however, go to that best of character portrait makers, Frank Keenan, as Sir Ensor Doone...The scenic features of the picture have been splendidly managed. The stagecoach inn might have been lifted from an authentic print of the times. The spirited passage of the coach robbery on the seashore is a smashing bit of pictorial emphasis and the action in the robber's village is scenically impressive."^[5]