Sally of the Sawdust

Sally of the Sawdust is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Carol Dempster and W. C. Fields. It was based on the 1923 stage musical Poppy.^[3] Fields would later star in a second film version, Poppy (1936).

Sally of the Sawdust
Poster
Directed by	D. W. Griffith
Written by	Forrest Halsey
Based on	Poppy by Dorothy Donnelly
Produced by	D. W. Griffith
Starring	Carol Dempster W. C. Fields Alfred Lunt Erville Alderson Marie Shotwell Glenn Anders
Cinematography	Harry Fischbeck Hal Sintzenich
Edited by	Russell G. Shields James Smith
Production company	D.W. Griffith Productions
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date	August 2, 1925 (1925-08-02)
Running time	104 minutes[1]
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)
Budget	$337,000[2]
Box office	$1,750,000[2]

The full film

Plot

Because she married a circus performer, Judge Foster (Erville Alderson) casts out his only daughter. Just before her death a few years later, she leaves her little girl Sally (Carol Dempster) in the care of her friend McGargle (W. C. Fields), a good-natured crook, juggler and fakir. Sally grows up in this atmosphere and is unaware of her parentage. McGargle, realizing his responsibility to the child, gets a job with a carnival company playing at Great Meadows, where the Fosters live. A real estate boom has made them wealthy. Sally is a hit with her dancing. Peyton (Alfred Lunt), the son of Judge Foster's friend, falls in love with Sally. To save him, the Judge arranges to have McGargle and Sally arrested. McGargle escapes, but Sally is hunted down and brought back. McGargle, hearing of Sally's plight, steals a Flivver, and after many delays, reaches the courtroom and presents proof of Sally's parentage. The Judge dismisses the case and his wife takes Sally in her arms, but Peyton's claim is stronger and she agrees to become his wife. McGargle is persuaded to remain and is found an outlet for his peculiar talents in selling real estate.

Cast

• Carol Dempster as Sally
• W. C. Fields as Professor Eustace McGargle
• Alfred Lunt as Peyton Lennox
• Erville Alderson as Judge Henry L. Foster
• Effie Shannon as Mrs. Foster
• Charles Hammond as Lennox, Sr.
• Roy Applegate as the detective
• Florence Fair as Miss Vinton
• Marie Shotwell as society leader
• Glenn Anders as Leon, the acrobat
• Steve Murphy as bandit
• Harrison Ford (uncredited)^[4]
• James Kirkwood, Sr. (uncredited)^[4]
• Tammany Young as yokel in the old army game (uncredited)^[4]

Production

Sally of the Sawdust was filmed at Paramount Pictures' Long Island studios.^[5]