Little Old New York
About Little Old New York
In 1806, Richard O'Day's will leaves a million dollars to his nephew Patrick in Ireland if Patrick claims it within a year; otherwise it goes to Richard's stepson Larry Delavan. Patrick dies on the voyage. His sister Patricia arrives with their father John, cuts her hair, and is received as Patrick. John dies after the crossing. Larry needs $10,000 for Robert Fulton's steamboat Clermont. Still disguised, Patricia tells John Jacob Astor the money is for real estate, then gives Fulton a money order in Astor's name. At a firehouse boxing match she rings the alarm, is tied to a pillory, and says she is a girl. A court clears her. Larry proposes, and they leave New York together.
Cast & crew
More about Little Old New York
Sidney Olcott directed. Luther Reed wrote the scenario from Rida Johnson Young's 1920 play. William Randolph Hearst produced it for Cosmopolitan. Goldwyn distributed it. Ira H. Morgan and Gilbert Warrenton photographed. Joseph Urban designed the sets. Gretl Urban designed the costumes. William Frederick Peters wrote the music. AFI production dates run from December 1922 to April 1923. Wikipedia gives 105 minutes, 11 reels, and a release date of 1 August 1923. AFI gives 108 minutes, lengths of 10,000 and 10,366 feet, a London premiere on 3 June 1923 at the Scala Theatre, a New York opening on 15 August 1923, a Los Angeles opening on 30 September 1923, and a general release on 4 November 1923. Copyright LP19451, 21 September 1923, claimant William Randolph Hearst. Marion Davies plays Patricia O'Day. Harrison Ford, the silent-film actor, plays Larry Delavan.
Themes
Background
The story is set in New York in 1806, around Fulton's Clermont and a set of named New Yorkers: Astor, Vanderbilt, Washington Irving, and Fitz-Greene Halleck.
Making
On 18 February 1923 a fire destroyed the Cosmopolitan studio and its contents. The negatives, about two-thirds of the film, were saved. Production started again at other New York studios, and the sets and costumes were rebuilt.
Audiences
Rentals were $1.1 million. Wikipedia, citing period rankings, calls it the seventh most popular film of the year in the United States and Canada. Screenland listed it as the year's third box-office hit. The Capitol engagement grossed $123,110 in two weeks.
Look
Ira H. Morgan and Gilbert Warrenton photographed the studio New York and the Hudson sequence built around a replica of the Clermont.
Music
William Frederick Peters composed the score. A 2019 restoration produced by Edward Lorusso uses music by Ben Model.
Preservation
A 35mm print is at the Library of Congress. The Irish Film Institute screened a copy in 2016. Edward Lorusso issued a restored version in 2019. A copy is on Wikimedia Commons.
Notes
- Stephen Carr plays Patrick O'Day. J. M. Kerrigan plays John O'Day. Courtenay Foote is Robert Fulton. Mahlon Hamilton is Washington Irving. Andrew Dillon is John Jacob Astor. Sam Hardy is Cornelius Vanderbilt. Louis Wolheim is the Hoboken Terror. Harry Watson is Bully Boy Brewster. Gypsy O'Brien is Ariana du Puyster.
- Larry bets the house on Brewster against the Hoboken Terror. Patricia rings the fire bell when Brewster starts to lose.
- Hearst had a replica of the Clermont built. The river race was staged on the Hudson in January 1923.
- Twentieth Century-Fox filmed Young's play again in 1940, with Alice Faye and Fred MacMurray. That is a different picture.
- At the theater owners' ball she was named Queen of the Screen and the top woman box-office star of 1923. Rudolph Valentino was named the top man.
- A two-week run at the Capitol Theatre in New York took $123,110, according to Moving Picture World, 8 December 1923.
Scenes
- Patricia cuts her hair and is taken for Patrick.
- She gives Fulton a money order in John Jacob Astor's name.
- Tied to the pillory after the false fire alarm, she says she is a girl.
Influenced by
- Little Old New York (play)
Also available
- Wikimedia Commons (Little Old New York (1923).webm)
