The Jack-Knife Man
About The Jack-Knife Man
Peter Lane, called the jack-knife man because he whittles wooden things and sells them, loves the Widow Potter and will not marry her. A hungry boy, Buddy, comes to Lane's houseboat for food. Lane gets help from the widow, returns, and finds the boy's mother dying. He buries her and keeps the child. A tramp called Booge moves in and will not leave. A parson takes Buddy away and places him with the widow. Lane's wooden toys begin to sell. He marries the Widow Potter.
Cast & crew
More about The Jack-Knife Man
King Vidor directed and produced his first film for First National. William Parker wrote the screenplay from Ellis Parker Butler's novel The Jack-Knife Man. Ira H. Morgan photographed it. First National released it on 1 August 1920. It runs 60 minutes. Harry Todd, Florence Vidor, Bobby Kelso, Lillian Leighton, Claire McDowell, and Charles Arling are in the cast.
Themes
Making
Vidor sets the adoption on a houseboat: the mother dies there, and the three of them, man, boy, and tramp, live on the same deck until the parson intervenes.
Look
Ira H. Morgan photographed the houseboat and the widow's house where the parson places Buddy.
Music
Silent.
Preservation
Prints survive in several film archives.
Notes
- The same year Vidor published a "Creed and Pledge" of what he wanted a picture to do. Commentators tie this film to that statement.
- Booge the tramp refuses to be put off the houseboat and stays with Lane and Buddy.
- The parson, not a court, is who takes the boy and gives him to the widow.
- Lane's living changes when people start buying the toys, not only the small carvings.
- Prints survive in more than one archive.
Scenes
- Lane comes back to the houseboat and finds Buddy's mother dying.
- Booge the tramp sits down and will not be moved off.
- The parson takes Buddy to the Widow Potter.
Influenced by
- Ellis Parker Butler's novel The Jack-Knife Man
Also available
- Internet Archive (silent-the-jack-knife-man)
