A Dark Lantern
1920 film by John S. Robertson
title: "A Dark Lantern" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1920-films", "1920-drama-films", "1920-lost-films", "1920-american-films", "1920s-english-language-films", "american-black-and-white-films", "american-silent-feature-films", "english-language-drama-films", "films-based-on-american-novels", "films-directed-by-john-s.-robertson", "films-set-in-england", "lost-american-silent-drama-films"] description: "1920 film by John S. Robertson" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Dark_Lantern" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary 1920 film by John S. Robertson ::
::data[format=table title="infobox film"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | A Dark Lantern |
| image | File:A Dark Lantern 1920 lanternslide.jpg |
| caption | Lantern slide for the film |
| director | John S. Robertson |
| producer | Realart Pictures |
| writer | Burns Mantle (scenario) |
| based_on | |
| starring | Alice Brady |
| James L. Crane | |
| cinematography | Roy Overbaugh |
| distributor | Realart Pictures |
| released | |
| runtime | 6 reels (5,956 feet) |
| country | United States |
| language | Silent (English intertitles) |
| :: |
| name = A Dark Lantern | image = File:A Dark Lantern 1920 lanternslide.jpg | caption = Lantern slide for the film | director = John S. Robertson | producer = Realart Pictures | writer = Burns Mantle (scenario) | based_on = | starring = Alice Brady James L. Crane | music = | cinematography = Roy Overbaugh | editing = | distributor = Realart Pictures | released = | runtime = 6 reels (5,956 feet) | country = United States | language = Silent (English intertitles) | budget = | gross = ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/A_Dark_Lantern_1920_newspaper_publicity_image.jpg" caption="Publicity photo from a contemporary newspaper."] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Alice_Brady_in_A_Dark_Lantern_by_John_S._Robertson_Film_Daily_1920.png" caption="Ad in [[The Film Daily]], 1920"] ::
A Dark Lantern is a 1920 American silent drama film produced and released by Realart Pictures. It is based on a 1905 novel of the same name by Elizabeth Robins. John S. Robertson directed and Alice Brady and her then husband James Crane star.
Plot
As described in a film magazine, mistaking the intentions of Prince Anton (Denny) of Argovinia in seeking her hand, young English woman Katherine Dereham (Brady) suffers a great shock when his attentions culminate in a proposal that she be his morganatic wife, his country requiring an alliance with a royal princess. This, together with the blow of her father's death, shatters Katherine's nerves and causes a breakdown. She recovers under the rigid administrations of Dr. Garth Vincent (Crane). Her attitude of antagonistic exaggeration of his sternness that conceives it as sheer brutality makes her submission to the deep love he bears her a sorrowful task. His patience at last breaks her embittered spirit and sends her to his home, willing to accept his protection under compromising circumstances. The realness of his affection is at last revealed to her and Prince Anton, whose love for Katherine has made him risk his throne by divorcing his wife, is sent back to Argovinia.
Cast
- Alice Brady as Katherine Dereham
- James Crane as Dr. Garth Vincent
- Reginald Denny as Prince Anton
- Brandon Hurst as Colonel Dereham
- Marie Burke as Lady Peterborough
- David Monterno as Graf-Wilhelm
- Carolyn Irwin as Mrs. Hally
- Mrs. Tony West as Mrs. Todine
- Roni Pursell as Princess Margaretha
- Russell McDermott as Leonard
- Virginia Huppert as Nurse for Katherine
- Dorothy Betts as Natalie, Maid
Production
According to the AFI Catalog, the film was shot at the Essanay studios in Chicago as that was where Alice Brady was appearing in a play at the time.
Preservation
With no prints of A Dark Lantern located in any film archives, it is a lost film.
References
References
- [http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=17699 The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: ''A Dark Lantern'']
- ''The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1911-20'' published by The American Film Institute, c.1920
- Blum, Daniel. (1953). "Pictorial History of the Silent Screen". G. P. Putman's Sons.
- (August 14, 1920). "Reviews: ''A Dark Lantern''". Exhibitors Herald Company.
- [http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.mbrs.sfdb.4622/default.html The Library of Congress / FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: ''A Dark Lantern'']
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