Black Beauty
About Black Beauty
Vitagraph adds a love story to Anna Sewell's horse. At Squire Gordon's party his daughter Jessie and Harry Blomefield are past the age of children's games, and Harry loves her. Jack Beckett, favored by Lady Wynsaring, steals £800 that the squire gave Lord Wynwaring for a charity. On the next day's hunt Jessie's brother George dies in a fall. Jack plants the money on the body, tells Jessie her brother was a thief, and makes her promise to marry him when she comes of age so he will not tell her mother. Harry tries to elope with her and fails. In a race, Black Beauty carries Harry to the win and to Jessie.
Cast & crew
More about Black Beauty
David Smith directed. George Randolph Chester wrote the adaptation of the 1877 novel. Jean Paige plays Jessie, James Morrison plays Harry, and George Webb plays Jack. Three of seven reels survive at the Library of Congress. Another 1921 film of the novel, from Eskay Harris, stars Claire Adams and Pat O'Malley.
Themes
Preservation
Incomplete. Three of seven reels are at the Library of Congress.
Notes
- Bobby Mack plays Derby Ghost. John Steppling plays Squire Gordon.
- The publication summary used for the plot adds a fox hunt and a race to the horse's story.
Scenes
- Jack puts the stolen £800 in the dead brother's pocket.
- Black Beauty carries Harry to the winning post and to Jessie.
Influenced by
- Anna Sewell, Black Beauty (1877)
Also available
- Internet Archive (silent-black-beauty)
