The Wise Guy

For other uses, see Wise Guy (disambiguation).

The Wise Guy is a 1926 American silent crime drama film produced and directed by Frank Lloyd and distributed through First National Pictures. Jules Furthman provided a screen story with scenario by Adela Rogers St. Johns. Mary Astor, James Kirkwood, and Betty Compson star.^[1]

The Wise Guy
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Directed by	Frank Lloyd
Written by	Adela Rogers St. Johns (adaptation) Ada McQuillan (scenario) George Marion, Jr. (intertitles)
Story by	Jules Furthman
Produced by	Frank Lloyd
Starring	Mary Astor James Kirkwood Betty Compson
Cinematography	Norbert Brodine
Distributed by	First National Pictures
Release date	May 23, 1926 (1926-05-23)
Running time	8 reels (7,775 feet)
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

Plot

Cast

• James Kirkwood as Guy Watson
• Mary Astor as Mary
• Betty Compson as Hula Kate
• George F. Marion as Horace Palmer
• Mary Carr as Ma Palmer
• George Cooper as The Bozo

Reception

Because the Kirkwood character was a criminal posing as an evangelistic minister who performs marriage and burial ceremonies, the film was found by the New York Board of Censors to be sacrilegious and banned from distribution unless remade. The Board was also concerned by the number of times the name of the Deity appeared in subtitles spoken by the fake minister. First National estimated the cost of resolving the Board's issues to be an additional $50,000 above the initial cost of $175,000.^[2]

Preservation

Previously considered lost, a print of The Wise Guy is preserved at the National Archives of Canada.^[3][4]