Victory (1919)

Axel Heyst, an uncommitted wanderer, has settled on an island in the South Seas. He takes pity on a troubled young woman, Lena, and gives her refuge on her island. But the piratical Mr. ... See full summary »

Director:

Maurice Tourneur

Writers:

Joseph Conrad (novel), Jules Furthman

Stars:

Jack Holt, Seena Owen, Wallace Beery

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jack Holt	...	Axel Heyst
Seena Owen	...	Alma
Wallace Beery	...	August Schomberg
Ben Deeley	...	Mr. Jones
Lon Chaney	...	Ricardo
Bull Montana	...	Pedro

Storyline

Axel Heyst, an uncommitted wanderer, has settled on an island in the South Seas. He takes pity on a troubled young woman, Lena, and gives her refuge on her island. But the piratical Mr. Jones, who believes Heyst has treasure buried on his island, leads his cohorts in an invasion of Heyst's haven.

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Plot Keywords:

island | south seas | one word title | hotel | fire | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 December 1919 (USA)

Also Known As:

Le secret du bonheur

Company Credits

Production Co:

Maurice Tourneur Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

62 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first film adaptation of a Joseph Conrad novel.

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Connections

Version of Victory (1940)

User Reviews

A ripping adaptation of Joseph Conrad's 1915 novel

Maurice Tourneur's VICTORY was made only four years after the publication of the source novel by Joseph Conrad, and features silent film sensation Lon Chaney in an early co-starring role.

When pre WWI isolationist Jack Holt steals a girl away from predatory hotel permitee Wallace Beery, Beery sics a trio of island-hopping fortune hunters on him. Lon Chaney steals the film as the shiv-shoving Ricardo, but Seena Owen is his equal as the desperate but clever Alma. Jack Holt is the jut-jawed hero, Bull Montana (the "ape man" of 1926's THE LOST WORLD, which starred Beery) a simian heyboy and Ben Deeley is the languid, almost Ernest Thesiger-like villain of the piece.

Jules Furthman's script simplifies Conrad's novel, and provides a much happier ending, but it's still surprisingly faithful and Conrad's witty but

fatalistic voice rings loud and clear.