The Passing of the Third Floor Back is a 1918 British/American silent allegorical film based on the 1908 play The Passing of the Third Floor Back by Jerome K. Jerome and directed by Herbert Brenon. The star of the film is Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson, a legendary Shakespearean actor, who starred in the 1909 Broadway presentation of the play and its 1913 revival. Forbes-Robertson had been knighted by King George V in 1913 and had retired from acting in theatre that same year. In his retirement Forbes-Robertson had only dabbled in film acting making a 1913 film version of Hamlet, the most famous role he had played on the stage. Filmed in 1916, it was released in 1918.[1][2][3]
As described in a film magazine,[4] in the boarding house of Mrs. Sharpe there is nothing but discord among her boarders. The "old maid" believes that only false hair and powder will make her beautiful. The major and his wife are continuously quarreling. Their daughter Vivian is being forced into a marriage for money. The young artist accepts an assignment of not the choicest line of work to secure funds to marry Vivian. Harry Larkcom is trying to force his attentions on a weak slavey. However, the arrival of The Stranger and his talk with each make them realize the selfishness and narrowness of their existence, and before long the boarding house is a happy and contented place. With his work done, The Stranger moves on.
Castedit
Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson as The Stranger, (who rents the room from Mrs Sharpe, designated by her as 'the third floor back')
Molly Pearson as Stasia (Molly Pearson played this part in the 1909 Broadway play)
In the United States, as in the case of many another American film of the time, The Passing of the Third Floor Back was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors cut, in Reel 2, the intertitle "What do you think I'm giving the earings for?", Reel 4, two intertitles "She brought disgrace upon herself" and "I'll be waiting for you tonight. The door will be open", and, Reel 5, the man drinking the poison.[5]
Referencesedit
^The Passing of the Third Floor Back, original Broadway production at the Maxine Elliott Theatre, October 4, 1909 to April 1910, 216 performances; IBDb.com
^The Passing of the Third Floor Back, Broadway revival at the Shubert Theatre, September 29, 1913 to December 29, 1913; IBDb.com
^Blum, Daniel, Pictorial History of the Silent Screen, c. 1953 (p. 136, 'Forbes-Robertson in scene from the film')
^"Reviews: Passing of the Third Floor Back". Exhibitors Herald. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. 6 (21): 27. May 18, 1918.
^"Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. 6 (20): 31. May 11, 1918.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Passing of the Third Floor Back (1918 film).
Jerome, Jerome K., The Passing of the Third Floor Back; an Idle Fancy in a Prologue, a Play, and an Epilogue, New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1921 edition, on the Internet Archive
December 15, 2023
passing, third, floor, back, 1918, film, 1935, film, starring, conrad, veidt, passing, third, floor, back, passing, third, floor, back, 1918, british, american, silent, allegorical, film, based, 1908, play, passing, third, floor, back, jerome, jerome, directed. For the 1935 film starring Conrad Veidt see The Passing of the Third Floor Back The Passing of the Third Floor Back is a 1918 British American silent allegorical film based on the 1908 play The Passing of the Third Floor Back by Jerome K Jerome and directed by Herbert Brenon The star of the film is Sir Johnston Forbes Robertson a legendary Shakespearean actor who starred in the 1909 Broadway presentation of the play and its 1913 revival Forbes Robertson had been knighted by King George V in 1913 and had retired from acting in theatre that same year In his retirement Forbes Robertson had only dabbled in film acting making a 1913 film version of Hamlet the most famous role he had played on the stage Filmed in 1916 it was released in 1918 1 2 3 The Passing of the Third Floor BackAdvertisementDirected byHerbert BrenonWritten byJerome K Jerome play and scenario Produced byHerbert BrenonFirst National PicturesStarringJohnston Forbes RobertsonCinematographyJ Roy HuntDistributed byAssociated First NationalRelease dateMay 1918 1918 05 CountryUnited KingdomLanguageSilent English intertitles Scene from the film Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Reception 4 References 5 External linksPlot editAs described in a film magazine 4 in the boarding house of Mrs Sharpe there is nothing but discord among her boarders The old maid believes that only false hair and powder will make her beautiful The major and his wife are continuously quarreling Their daughter Vivian is being forced into a marriage for money The young artist accepts an assignment of not the choicest line of work to secure funds to marry Vivian Harry Larkcom is trying to force his attentions on a weak slavey However the arrival of The Stranger and his talk with each make them realize the selfishness and narrowness of their existence and before long the boarding house is a happy and contented place With his work done The Stranger moves on Cast editSir Johnston Forbes Robertson as The Stranger who rents the room from Mrs Sharpe designated by her as the third floor back Molly Pearson as Stasia Molly Pearson played this part in the 1909 Broadway play Ketty Galanta Augusta Haviland George Le Guere as Christopher Penny A Coward played by David Powell in the play Le Guerre was unbilled Alfred Hickman Victory Bateman or Dora Mills Adams as Miss De Hooley a snob unbilled Reception editIn the United States as in the case of many another American film of the time The Passing of the Third Floor Back was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards For example the Chicago Board of Censors cut in Reel 2 the intertitle What do you think I m giving the earings for Reel 4 two intertitles She brought disgrace upon herself and I ll be waiting for you tonight The door will be open and Reel 5 the man drinking the poison 5 References edit The Passing of the Third Floor Back original Broadway production at the Maxine Elliott Theatre October 4 1909 to April 1910 216 performances IBDb com The Passing of the Third Floor Back Broadway revival at the Shubert Theatre September 29 1913 to December 29 1913 IBDb com Blum Daniel Pictorial History of the Silent Screen c 1953 p 136 Forbes Robertson in scene from the film Reviews Passing of the Third Floor Back Exhibitors Herald New York City Exhibitors Herald Company 6 21 27 May 18 1918 Official Cut Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors Exhibitors Herald 6 20 31 May 11 1918 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Passing of the Third Floor Back 1918 film The Passing of the Third Floor Back at IMDb The Passing of the Third Floor Back at AllMovie Jerome Jerome K The Passing of the Third Floor Back an Idle Fancy in a Prologue a Play and an Epilogue New York Dodd Mead and Company 1921 edition on the Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Passing of the Third Floor Back 1918 film amp oldid 1167907949, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
