Manslaughter (1922)

25% of users liked it
(11 ratings)

This Cecil B. DeMille morality play came at just the right time -- the Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle scandal and William Desmond Taylor murder were both still fresh in the public's mind. Leatrice Joy plays Lydia Thorne, a rich society girl who is addicted to thrills. Because of her reckless driving, she… More This Cecil B. DeMille morality play came at just the right time -- the Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle scandal and William Desmond Taylor murder were both still fresh in the public's mind. Leatrice Joy plays Lydia Thorne, a rich society girl who is addicted to thrills. Because of her reckless driving, she is responsible for the death of a motorcycle cop and is brought to trial. The prosecutor is none other than her fiancé, Daniel O'Bannon (Thomas Meighan). Feeling that prison is her only means of mending her ways, he guarantees her conviction by making a speech in which he depicts the decadence and downfall of Rome (this gave DeMille the opportunity for one of his historical fantasy sequences). After Lydia is found guilty, the miserable O'Bannon becomes an alcoholic, but Lydia does learn from the experience and when she is released she searches out O'Bannon. Her new outlook on life brings him around, and they are together once again. This film is, perhaps, the epitome of the DeMille formula of the '20s -- as long as the characters paid for their sins by the last reel, DeMille could show all the debauchery he wanted. This pleased both the Hayes office's need for censorship and filmgoers' hunger for sensation. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated,
Directed By: Cecil B. DeMille
Genres: Drama

On DVD: Apr 2, 2002

Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
DeMille is the Griffith of Snark

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Cast

            Thomas Meighan as Daniel O'Bannon

            Leatrice Joy as Lydia Thorne

            Lois Wilson as Evans Her Maid

            John Miltern as Gov. Stephen Albee

            George Fawcett as Judge Homans

            Julia Faye as Mrs. Drummond

            Edythe Chapman as Adeline Bennett

            Jack Mower as Drummond a Policeman

            Dorothy Cumming as Eleanor Bellington

            Casson Ferguson as Bobby Dorest

            Mickey Moore as Dicky Evans

            James Neill as Butler

            Sylvia Ashton as Prison Matron

            Raymond Hatton as Brown

            "Teddy" as "Gloomy Gus"

            Mabel Van Buren as Prisoner

            Ethel Wales as Prisoner

            Dale Fuller as Prisoner

            Edward Martindel as Wiley

            Charles Ogle as Doctor

            Guy Oliver as Musician

            Shannon Day as Miss Santa Claus

            Lucien Littlefield as Witness

            Spottiswood Aitken
            
            Sidney Bracey
            
            Clarence Burton
            
See full cast

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