The Blot (1921)

The Professor dispenses the wisdom of the ages and does not make a living wage. The sons of the rich and powerful are students lacking any motivation. The next door neighbor of the ... See full summary »

Director:

Lois Weber

Writers:

Marion Orth, Lois Weber

Stars:

Philip Hubbard, Margaret McWade, Claire Windsor

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Philip Hubbard	...	The Professor, Andrew Theodore Griggs
Margaret McWade	...	His Wife, Mrs. Griggs
Claire Windsor	...	His Daughter, Amelia Griggs
Louis Calhern	...	His Pupil, Phil West
Marie Walcamp	...	The Other Girl, Juanita Claredon

Storyline

The Professor dispenses the wisdom of the ages and does not make a living wage. The sons of the rich and powerful are students lacking any motivation. The next door neighbor of the Professor, businessman Olsen, has money and lots of food, while the Griggs have hardly any. Both Peter Olsen and Reverend Gates are taken by the beauty of young Amelia Griggs. When rich son Phil West falls for Amelia Griggs and befriends the poor Reverend Gates, he finally sees the difference in his life and theirs and tries to do something to change that.

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Plot Keywords:

professor | neighbor | melodrama | spinster | lecture | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 September 1921 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lois Weber Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min 90 min (TCM print) 91 min (restored-Thames Silents: Brownlow/Gill)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

College scenes were filmed at the University of California, Los Angeles, which was located at the time on Vermont Avenue in Hollywood, and later relocated to Westwood. The site on Vermont is now (2011) occupied by Los Angeles City College. None of the original buildings which appeared in this film have survived.

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Goofs

When Juanita visits the library to see Amelia, she puts her hand on the railing twice. Between shots, she is holding her fur piece differently as well.

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Quotes

Intertitle: Men are boys grown tall.

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Connections

Featured in The Silent Feminists: America's First Women Directors (1993)

User Reviews

Wonderfully engaging

I tuned into "The Blot" mostly to see what Louis Calhern was like in his younger days. But what I found was an engaging, multi-faceted story.

Like a Robert Altman film, "The Blot" tells its tale with a host of interesting characters who interact at various points. The characters are fleshed-out, not just stereotypes.

Without giving away the plot, let me just say that I loved the use of shoes (and even shoe-polishing) to point out class differences. And the scene with the chicken dinner is poignant on many levels.

Highly recommended!