Orchids and Ermine (1927)

A telephone operator at an opulent hotel falls in love with a young man who turns out to be a rich oil millionaire.

Director:

Alfred Santell

Writers:

Ralph Spence (titles), Carey Wilson (screenplay)

Stars:

Colleen Moore, Jack Mulhall, Sam Hardy

Cast

Credited cast:
Colleen Moore	...	'Pink' Watson
Jack Mulhall	...	Richard Tabor
Sam Hardy	...	Hank
Gwen Lee	...	Ermintrude
Alma Bennett	...	The Vamp
Hedda Hopper	...	The Modiste
Kate Price	...	Mrs. McGinnis
Jed Prouty	...	Leander Blom
Emily Fitzroy	...	Mrs. Blom
Carolynne Snowden	...	Hattie (as Caroline Snowden)
Yola d'Avril	...	Telephone Operator
Brooks Benedict	...	Chauffeur
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bobby Doyle	...	Bell Hop
Tom Ricketts
Mickey Rooney	...	Mickey McGuire (as Mickey McGuire)

Storyline

A telephone operator at an opulent hotel falls in love with a young man who turns out to be a rich oil millionaire.

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Plot Keywords:

mistaken identity | 

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Taglines:

A telephone girl's tale. Listen in on her cleverest comedy-romance. (Print Ad- Hackettstown Gazzette, ((Hackettstown, NJ)) 17 June 1927)

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Release Date:

6 March 1927 (USA)

Also Known As:

Arminhos e Orquídeas

Filming Locations:

First National Studios, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

First National Pictures,John McCormick Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Mickey Rooney.

User Reviews

Breezy 20s Romp

Orchids and Ermine is the story of a girl who loves and wants both from her husband. "Pink" Watson (Colleen Moore) refuses the love of a working class man for the dream of wealth and prosperity. She wins a job as a telephone operator in a ritzy hotel simply because she is not overdone. There she meets Ermintrude (Gwen Lee), a gold digger who only appears to be more successful than Pink. The two become part of a trick among a very wealthy man and his valet. Richard Tabor (Jack Milhall) is a meek, intellectual type which is probably why he is a millionaire. To avoid being swarmed by gold diggers, he switches identities with his valet Hank (Sam Hardy) who gladly parades his "wealth" around. In the process he meets Pink who falls for him despite his money and becomes the victim of various mishaps due to the switch.

This is yet another silly film starring Moore, but a good one. She's a lot of fun in her comic role. Milhall is great too, very reminiscent of Harold Lloyd's bashful character. Also making an appearance is Mickey Rooney, a seven year old playing a sophisticated midget. You'd never guess it was him by his looks, but his acting ability is apparent even at this early stage.