Penrod and Sam
About Penrod and Sam
Penrod Schofield and Sam Williams start a secret society and keep out Georgie Bassett and Roddy Bitts. Penrod's father sells the boys' lot to the wealthy Deacon Bitts, and Roddy then bars Penrod from it. Penrod's dog has just died and is buried on that lot. Mr. Schofield sees what the sale has done and buys the lot back.
Cast & crew
More about Penrod and Sam
William Beaudine directed. Louis D. Lighton and Hope Loring wrote the screenplay from Booth Tarkington's 1916 novel. J. K. McDonald produced. Associated First National released it on 18 June 1923, after an Indianapolis opening on 11 June and a New York opening on 24 June. Ben Alexander plays Penrod. Joe Butterworth plays Sam. Newton Hall plays Georgie Bassett. Buddy Messinger plays Roddy Bitts. Ray June and Edward Ullman photographed it. English Wikipedia times it at 84 minutes.
Themes
Making
Beaudine shot Tarkington's boys' book for First National with a child cast headed by Ben Alexander. The plot the AFI records is the sold lot and the buried dog.
Look
Ray June and Edward Ullman photographed the small-town streets, the club, and the lot where the dog is buried.
Preservation
Prints are held by the Library of Congress and the EYE Film Institute Netherlands. The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database lists the film as extant.
Notes
- Gertrude Messinger plays Marjorie Jones, billed as Penrod's sweetheart. Eugene Jackson plays Verman. Rockliffe Fellowes and Gladys Brockwell are Mr. and Mrs. Schofield. Mary Philbin plays Margaret.
- The AFI synopsis turns on the dog's grave, not on an initiation stunt.
- Beaudine directed a sound Penrod and Sam in 1931, from the same novel, with a different cast.
- Motion Picture News of 10 and 17 March 1923 announced First National's plan to film the book.
- Prints are at the Library of Congress and the EYE Film Institute in the Netherlands.
Scenes
- Penrod and Sam shut Georgie Bassett and Roddy Bitts out of the secret society.
- Roddy, after his father buys the lot, tells Penrod he cannot go where the dog is buried.
- Mr. Schofield buys the lot back.
Influenced by
- Booth Tarkington's novel Penrod and Sam (1916)
Also available
- Library of Congress
- EYE Film Institute Netherlands
