The Virgin of Stamboul

Name: The Virgin of Stamboul
Director: Tod Browning
Genre: Drama
Released: 1920
Duration: 1 h 10 min
Cast: Priscilla Dean, Wheeler Oakman, Wallace Beery, Clyde Benson, E. Alyn Warren

1920 Drama 70 minutes Directed by Tod Browning

About The Virgin of Stamboul

Sari (Priscilla Dean), a beggar in Stamboul, overhears someone tell Captain Carlisle Pemberton (Wheeler Oakman) that her soul is as filthy as the streets. She goes into a mosque, knowing women are not allowed, and sees the sheik Achmet Hamid (Wallace Beery) commit a revenge murder. He tries to draw her into his harem and then to buy her. Pemberton, who has raised a Black Horse cavalry, comes back from the desert decided that he loves her. Achmet carries both of them to a fortified camp outside the city. Sari gets out and brings the cavalry down on the camp.

Cast & crew

More about The Virgin of Stamboul

Tod Browning directed. He and William Parker wrote the scenario from H. H. Van Loan's story, originally titled Undraped. Carl Laemmle presented this Universal-Jewel production. William Fildew photographed. Viola Lawrence, billed as Viola Mallory, edited. Seven reels, 70 minutes. Copyright LP14919, 23 March 1920. Published dates for the U.S. release are 27 March 1920 and, in the AFI Catalog, 29 March 1920. The New York premiere was 21 March 1920 at Moss's Broadway Theatre. Mid-production the title was changed to The Beautiful Beggar, then changed back. Laemmle paid for a studio replica of Istanbul with bazaars, a harem, desert, and costumes. Trade ads cited a production cost of $500,000. During the first week of January 1920 some production charts credit Fildew and a cameraman named Myers together.

Themes

A beggar judged by the street
A mosque women may not enter
A cavalry camp outside the walls
Priscilla Dean
Wallace Beery
Stamboul
Tod Browning
harem

Making

The Istanbul of the film is a Universal build, not a location shoot. Browning was given the bazaars, the harem set, and the costumes Laemmle paid for.

Look

William Fildew photographed the mosque, the harem, and the desert camp on the studio replica. January 1920 production charts also name a second cameraman, Myers, for the first week.

Music

Max Winkler arranged a musical accompaniment for the silent release.

Preservation

A print of the film exists.

Notes

On 7 March 1920 publicist Harry Reichenbach had a "sheik" from Constantinople and his party check into the Majestic Hotel in New York, looking for an American heiress who had left with a marine. The first teaser ads ran at the same time.
E. Alyn Warren plays Yusef Bey. Nigel De Brulier is Capt. Kassari. Eugenie Forde is Sari's mother. Ethel Ritchie is Resha. Edmund Burns is Hector Baron. Clyde Benson is a diplomat.
Beery's character is billed as Ahmed Hamid, and also as Achmet Hamid and as Achmet Bey.