Cheap Kisses

1924 film by John Ince

December 21, 1924 (1924-12-21)

Running time

7 reelsCountryUnited StatesLanguageSilent (English intertitles)

Cheap Kisses is a 1924 American silent drama film starring Jean Hersholt as a famous sculptor. This was the first film made by screenwriter C. Gardner Sullivan through his new production company, C. Gardner Sullivan Productions. Sullivan also wrote the screenplay.^[1] The film was described as "a virile, fast-moving, jazzy story of the present day and age. It shows the peril to the youth of the land along the cocktail, petting-party route."^[2]

Plot

As described in a review in a film magazine,^[3] Donald Dillingham (Landis) marries a chorus girl, Ardell Kendall (Rich), and his wealthy family turn him down, but when they learn that the celebrated sculptor, Gustaf Borgstrom (Hersholt), who is being lionized by society, has selected Ardell as the most beautiful American woman, they call on Donald and insist that he and Ardell and Borgstrom visit their big estate. Among the jazzy crowd present is an adventuress, Maybelle Westcott (Eyton), and Donald falls for her. Ardell, using as a lever his father's infatuation for a showgirl, gets money from him and then buys Maybelle off and exposes her when she does not live up to her bargain. Donald resents her attitude and she leaves him. Returning to their home she finds Donald, contrite, is already there and she forgives him.

Cast

Jean Hersholt as Gustaf Borgstrom
Michael Dark as Butterworth Little
Sidney DeGray as Henry Dillingham
Louise Dresser as Jane Dillingham
Bessie Eyton as Maybelle Wescott
Cullen Landis as Donald Dillingham
Kathleen Myers as Mignon De Lisle
Vera Reynolds as Kitty Dillingham
Lillian Rich as Ardell Kendall
Tom Ricketts as The Old Man
Phillips Smalley as George Wescott
Lincoln Stedman as Bill Kendall

Preservation

With no prints of Cheap Kisses located in any film archives,^[4] it is a lost film.

References

^ Progressive Silent Film List: Cheap Kisses at silentera.com
^ "Sullivan Staked Reputation On 'Cheap Kisses'". Santa Cruz News. April 23, 1925. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Sewell, Charles S. (November 15, 1924). "Cheap Kisses; Interesting Story and Effective Comedy Makes C. Gardner Sullivan Picture a Pleasing Offering". The Moving Picture World. 71 (3). New York City: Chalmers Publishing Co.: 269.
^ Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: Cheap Kisses