| Hearts Asleep | |
| Director: | Howard Hickman |
| Producer: | Bessie Barriscale |
| Starring: | Bessie Barriscale |
| Studio: | B. B. Features, Inc. |
| Distributor: | Robertson-Cole |
| Runtime: | 5 reels |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | Silent (English intertitles) |
Hearts Asleep is a 1919 American silent crime drama film directed by Howard Hickman and produced by and starring his wife Bessie Barriscale. It was distributed through the Robertson-Cole Company.[1]
As described in a film magazine,[2] Nancy (Barriscale) is the orphan charge of underworld fence Mother Hawkins (Dodge), but has managed to remain honest despite her patrons instructions to make her a thief. Gentleman Chi (Woodward), a notorious second story man, visits Mother Hawkins and buys her rights to Nancy, taking her with him as he goes to loot a residence. She escapes to the home of John Lewis (Whitson), who sends her to school. Gentleman Chi is caught and sent to prison for five years. Five years pass and Nancy is introduced by Lewis as his niece and moves in society until Chi, released from prison, comes to a house party and tries to force her to aid him in a contemplated theft of jewelry. She refuses, but the daughter of the host aids in the burglary and Nancy takes the blame to shield her. At the last moment the daughter confesses and saves Nancy. Lewis decides he is tired of the "uncle" role and asks Nancy to marry him, and she accepts.
With no prints of Hearts Asleep located in any film archives, it is considered a lost film.[3] In October of 2020, the film was cited by the National Film Preservation Board on their Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films list.[1]