The Delicious Little Devil (1919)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Robert Z. Leonard

Writers:

Harvey F. Thew (story) and
John B. Clymer (story) ...

Release Date:

May 1919 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

A poor hat-check girl loses her job and is forced to get a job as a dancer at a roadhouse. There she falls in love with the son of a rich businessman...

Plot Keywords:

Hat Check Girl | Dancer | Uncle | Attempted Rape | Dinner Party

Cast

Mae Murray	...	Mary McGuire
Richard Cummings	...	Uncle Barney
Harry L. Rattenberry	...	Pat McGuire (as Harry Rattenbury)
Edward Jobson	...	Michael Calhoun
Rudolph Valentino	...	Jimmy Calhoun (as Rudolpho De Valintine)
Bert Woodruff	...	Musk (as Burt Woodruff)
Martha Mattox	...	Musk's Wife
William V. Mong	...	Larry McKean (as William Mong)
Ivor McFadden	...	Percy
Bertram Grassby	...	Duke de Sauterne
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Satchel McVea	...	Musician in I S McVea's Howdy Band

Runtime:

USA:55 min (2006 alternate version) | 63 min (24 fps) | Spain:52 min (DVD edition)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Spain:T

Company:

Universal Film Manufacturing Company

Trivia:

The AFI Catalogue reports a release date of May 1919. However, a 13 April 1919 article "Written on the Screen" in the New York Times mentions the film was playing at the Broadway, although it was not reviewed. A week later, a similar article mentions it was in its second week at the Broadway.

Wobbly Comedy with Valentino Supporting

Mae Murray (as Mary McGuire) works as a coat and cloak check girl; when she dons one of the customers garments and dances around in it, she is fired. Ms. Murray decides to apply for a job as hostess and dancer at the "Peach Tree Inn" managed by William Mong (as Larry McKean). In order to clinch the job, Murray pretends to be infamous dancer Gloria De Moin. Murray is also the only dancer available to hire, as all of the other applicants walk out.

Randy Rudolph Valentino (as Jimmy Calhoun) is a "Peach Tree Inn" patron who becomes enamored with Murray - he wants to marry her, but his wealthy father is wary. Meanwhile, Bertram Grassby (as Duke de Sauterne) returns to complicate matters; he was involved with the real Gloria De Moin, and is on the lam from the law…

Handsome Valentino and smarmy Grassby are the highlight of the film, which picks up considerably whenever the two strut their stuff over Murray. Otherwise, the story is uninteresting, and the comedy doesn't work. Unfortunately, the film is "speeded up" - possibly, this is done to enhance its comedy effect; instead, it can make you dizzy, or put you to sleep. "The Delicious Little Devil" is not the place start, if you want to appreciate silent films fully.

***** The Delicious Little Devil (1919) Robert Z. Leonard ~ Mae Murray, Rudolph Valentino, Bertram Grassby