The Saphead (1920)

The simple-minded son of a rich financier must find his own way in the world.

Directors:

Herbert Blaché, Winchell Smith

Writers:

Bronson Howard (original play "The Henrietta"), Victor Mapes (play),

Stars:

Edward Jobson, Beulah Booker, Edward Connelly

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Edward Jobson	...	Reverend Murray Hilton
Beulah Booker	...	Agnes Gates
Edward Connelly	...	Mr. Musgrave
Edward Alexander	...	Watson Flint
Irving Cummings	...	Mark Turner
Odette Taylor	...	Mrs. Cornelia Opdyke
Carol Holloway	...	Rose Turner
Jack Livingston	...	Dr. George Wainright
William H. Crane	...	Nicholas Van Alstyne
Buster Keaton	...	Bertie Van Alstyne

Storyline

Nick Van Alstyne owns the Henrietta silver mine and is very rich. His son Bertie is naive and spoiled. His daughter Rose is married to shady investor Mark. Mark wrecks Bertie's wedding plans by making him take the blame for Mark's illegitimate daughter. Mark also nearly ruins the family business by selling off Henrietta stock at too low a price. Bertie, of all people, must come to the rescue on the trading floor.

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Plot Keywords:

wedding | stock exchange | infidelity | gambling | broadway manhattan new york city | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Release Date:

September 1920 (USA)

Also Known As:

A mamlasz

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

77 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White (tinted)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Feature-film debut of Buster Keaton.

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Goofs

When Bertie's car pulls up to the house after the aborted wedding, the front gate is closed, but when he gets out of the car it is wide open.

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Quotes

Bertie: I'm good. I've tried my best to get over it - but I can't - and I still kneel down and say my prayers every morning - before I go to bed.

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Connections

Featured in Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow (1987)

User Reviews

Not Up to Par with Other Keaton Films

This film is not up to Buster Keaton's standards. The most interesting part of the film is the introduction, in which you see shadows of the stars in picture frames and then the shadows come to life and you see some of the stars of the movie. It's been said that this movie is a re-make of The Lamb (1915), but it isn't. The Lamb, which was Douglas Fairbanks' film debut, was much better. Fairbanks' character wasn't a wimp, like Keaton's character is in The Saphead. The only reason I don't give it a lower score is because of Keaton's presence in the movie, even though there is not much to like about his character. He's a wimp. So if you're looking for an example of his work, just about any of his other silent features or shorts that he stars in would be better than this.