The Wise Guy

The Wise Guy is a 1926 American silent crime drama film produced and directed by Frank Lloyd and distributed through First National Pictures. Jules Furthman provided a screen story with scenario by Adela Rogers St. Johns. Mary Astor, James Kirkwood, and Betty Compson star.

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The Wise Guy
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Frank Lloyd
Adela Rogers St. Johns (adaptation)Ada McQuillan (scenario)George Marion, Jr. (intertitles)
Jules Furthman
Frank Lloyd
Mary AstorJames KirkwoodBetty Compson
Norbert Brodine
First National Pictures
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May 23, 1926 (1926-05-23)
8 reels (7,775 feet)
United States
Silent (English intertitles)

The Wise Guy is a 1926 American silent crime drama film produced and directed by Frank Lloyd and distributed through First National Pictures. Jules Furthman provided a screen story with scenario by Adela Rogers St. Johns. Mary Astor, James Kirkwood, and Betty Compson star.

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Column 1Column 2
This article needs a plot summary. Please add one in your own words. (January 2024)

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Because the Kirkwood character was a criminal posing as an evangelistic minister who performs marriage and burial ceremonies, the film was found by the New York Board of Censors to be sacrilegious and banned from distribution unless remade. The Board was also concerned by the number of times the name of the Deity appeared in subtitles spoken by the fake minister. First National estimated the cost of resolving the Board's issues to be an additional $50,000 above the initial cost of $175,000.

Previously considered lost, a print of The Wise Guy is preserved at the National Archives of Canada.

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  • The Wise Guy at IMDb
  • Lobby card at gettyimages.com
  • Still at silentfilmstillarchive.com

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