Janice Meredith (1924)

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Newspaper magnate and movie producer William Randolph Hearst created this massive epic about the American Revolution to showcase the talents of his mistress Marion Davies. The results were far better than anyone could have imagined, given these circumstances; both film content and Marion were… More Newspaper magnate and movie producer William Randolph Hearst created this massive epic about the American Revolution to showcase the talents of his mistress Marion Davies. The results were far better than anyone could have imagined, given these circumstances; both film content and Marion were artistic successes. The story literally covers the whole Revolution and has Davies' character, Janice Meredith, playing a key part -- in Hearst's world, Marion/Janice is the one ultimately responsible for sending Paul Revere on his famous ride! However, America's fight for freedom (including the Boston tea party, Valley Forge, etc.) shares space with the picture's love story: Janice, who comes from a family of wealthy Tory sympathizers is in love with a servant named Charles Fownes (Harrison Ford). Fownes, of course, is a rebel and joins George Washington's (Joseph Kilgour) staff. Their love survives through many political and war intrigues until the day Fownes insists that Janice cut ties with all British associates, including her father (Maclyn Arbuckle). She refuses and goes home to marry Philemon Hennion (Olin Howland), but Fownes leads a rebel raid that thwarts the wedding. The Meredith lands are taken by the rebels and Hennion is arrested for his work with the British. Finally, as the Revolution nears its triumphant end, Janice and Fownes wind up together. W.C. Fields, as a British sergeant, provides a small bit of comic relief from all this drama. While Janice Meredith received honestly enthusiastic reviews (not just from the Hearst papers), its negative cost of nearly a million dollars -- a fortune in those days -- prohibited it from making a profit. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 11 min.
Directed By: E. Mason Hopper
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 8, 1924 Wide

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Cast

            Marion Davies as Janice Meredith

            Harrison Ford II as Charles Fownes (Lord Brereton)

            Maclyn Arbuckle as Squire Meredith

            Spencer Charters as Squire Hennion

            Olin Howland as Philemon Hennion

            George Nash as Lord Howe

            Joseph Kilgour as George Washington

            Lionel Adams as Thomas Jefferson

            Mildred Arden as Tabitha Larkin

            Edwin Argus as Louis XVI

            Lee Beggs as Benjamin Franklin

            Holbrook Blinn as Lord Clowes

            Hattie de Laro as Mrs. Meredith

            W.C. Fields as British Sergeant

            Harlan E. Knight as Theodore Larkin

            Walter Law as Gen. Charles Lee

            Edgar Nelson as Tailor

            Tyrone Power Sr. as Lord Cornwallis

            George Siegmann as Col. Rahl

            Robert Thorne as Patrick Henry

            Helen Lee Worthing as Mrs. Loring

            Ken Maynard as Paul Revere

            Wilfred Noy as Dr. Joseph Warren

            Byron Russell as Capt. Parker

            Douglas Stevenson as Capt. Mowbrary
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