His Majesty, the American (1919)

Director:

Joseph Henabery

Writers:

Joseph Henabery (scenario) and
Douglas Fairbanks (scenario)

Release Date:

1 September 1919 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Imaginary Kingdom | Long Lost Relative | Mexico | New York City | Pancho Villa

Cast

Douglas Fairbanks	...	William Brooks
Marjorie Daw	...	Felice, Countess of Montenac
Frank Campeau	...	Grand Duke Sarzeau
Sam Southern	...	King Phillipe IV
Jay Dwiggins	...	Emile Metz
Lillian Langdon	...	Princess Marguerite
Albert MacQuarrie	...	Undetermined Role (as Albert McQuarrie)
Bull Montana	...	Undetermined Role
William Gillis	...	Undetermined Role (as Will Gillis)
Phil Gastrock	...	Undetermined Role (as Phil Gastrox)

Runtime:

Belgium:115 min (copy with English titles at Brussels Musée du Cinéma) | USA:80 min

Country:

USA

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Company:

Douglas Fairbanks Pictures Corp.

Trivia:

This is the first feature to be released through United Artists.

The amazing Douglas Fairbanks swings into action once more.

In a prologue, Douglas Fairbanks tells us that this is the first film produced by the new United Artists studio, so the film has greater historic significance than it might command on its merits. This film is simply a vehicle for Fairbanks to do what he does best: run, jump, leap, dash, bolt and generally bounce around like a rubber ball. The plot, such as it is, revolves around Bill Brooks, a kidnapped European prince raised in luxury in America without any knowledge of who he is or where his lavish support comes from. Not having to work for a living, he spends his time seeking adrenaline rushes as an amateur firefighter and policeman. One of the best sequences in the film is when Fairbanks swings back and forth from the balcony of an adjacent building to a burning tenement to rescue a trapped family and their cat. He then toddles off to Mexico and captures Poncho Villa, just for an afternoon's diversion. All of this is but an excuse to see Fairbanks do his stuff and serves as a prologue to the real story. Traitors and foreign spies are inciting the population of the kingdom to revolt against the aging king (Sam Sothern). The prince is summoned to return home and save the kingdom. Prince Bill outwits the plotters, summons the cavalry and rides to the rescue. What were you expecting? Shakespeare? Tennessee Williams? Anyway, Fairbanks is always worth watching, plot or not plot. If you like Doug Fairbanks (and who doesn't?) you will enjoy this photoplay.