Manhattan Madness (1925 film) explained

Manhattan Madness
Director:John McDermott
Producer:Oscar Price
Based On:story by E.V. Durling
Starring:Estelle Taylor
Jack Dempsey
Cinematography:Jules Cronjager
Studio:Fine Arts Pictures
Distributor:Associated Exhibitors
Runtime:6 reels
Country:United States
Language:Silent (English intertitles)

Manhattan Madness is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by John McDermott and starring Jack Dempsey and Estelle Taylor, a then real life husband and wife duo. It was produced by Fine Arts Pictures and distributed through Associated Exhibitors. This film is a remake of Douglas Fairbanks's 1916 film Manhattan Madness.[1] [2]

Plot

As described in a film magazine reviews, young Westerner Steve O’Dare comes to New York City in search of thrills but finds it very dull. A host of his friends decide to whoop things up a bit. An attractive young woman (Taylor) to whom Steve has been introduced has been suddenly kidnapped and sends him an S.O.S. from a house on Long Island. In good faith, Steve rushes to the rescue. The Long Island place appears to be possessed or the habitat of an evil gang determined to exterminate him by any means possible. Mysterious happenings occur in the house such as sliding walls, trap doors, dungeons, and what not. Steve gets busy and tackles them one at a time or altogether, and finally rescues the fair damsel, only to find that it was all a joke. Steve’s ire is aroused and he kidnaps the young woman and makes her his wife.

Production

Oscar Price, of Associated Exhibitors, made plans to remake 1916's Manhattan Madness in early 1925 and served as its producer.[3] [4] Jack Dempsey was unable to participate in any boxing matches as stipulated by his contract for the film.[5] It was initially claimed that the Dempseys were paid $250,000, but it was denied by Jack's manager Jack Kearns.[6] Filming started on March 23, 1925, and ended in April.[7] [8] [9]

Reception

Roberta Nangle, writing in Chicago Daily Tribune, criticized the film as "old stuff" and "an incoherent jumble of fist fights, kidnapings, shootings, and similar rough stuff capped by a romantic but rather silly climax".[10] Laurence Reid of Motion Picture News stated that "it is a hokum picture which is built entirely on the premise of surprise" and "It is well done allowing for some colorless comedy relief expressed by a pair of eccentric cowpuncher - and some repetitious incident leading up to the climax." Allene Talmey described it as "undoubtedly one of the worst films ever produced".[11]

Preservation

The film is preserved at the Library of Congress and George Eastman House Motion Picture Collection.[12]

Works cited

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/M/ManhattanMadness1925.html Progressive Silent Film List: Manhattan Madness
  2. Web site: The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: Manhattan Madness . August 5, 2017 . July 11, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170711172738/http://www.afi.com/members//catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=10627 . live .
  3. News: February 7, 1925 . Latest Plans . 7 . Los Angeles Evening Post-Record . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221205003314/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113764185/los-angeles-evening-post-record/ . December 5, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  4. News: March 15, 1925 . Will Co-Star The Dempseys . 80 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221205003352/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113764212/the-baltimore-sun/ . December 5, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  5. News: March 18, 1925 . Jack Dempsey Cannot Fight Until Fall . 16 . The Standard Union . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221205003421/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113764258/the-standard-union/ . December 5, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  6. News: March 18, 1925 . Jack and Estelle In Movies . 11 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221205003457/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113764290/the-kansas-city-times/ . December 5, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  7. News: March 20, 1925 . Dempseys Will Start Filming "Manhattan Madness" Monday . 6 . Visalia Daily Times . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221205003529/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113764317/visalia-daily-times/ . December 5, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  8. News: April 23, 1925 . Jack Dempsey and Wife Will Finish Picture Manhattan Madness . 2 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221205003614/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113764750/lebanon-daily-news/ . December 5, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  9. News: April 30, 1925 . Dempsey Says He Is Not Through With Fight Game . 20 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221205003645/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113764759/the-news-journal/ . December 5, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  10. News: Nangle . Roberta . August 1, 1925 . Mr. Dempsey as an Actor Wears His Tux Well . Chicago Daily Tribune.
  11. News: October 31, 1926 . Behind the Screens: Where Estelle and Jack Stand . 60 . Tacoma Daily Ledger . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221205003723/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113764079/the-tacoma-daily-ledger/ . December 5, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  12. https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.mbrs.sfdb.2492/default.html The Library of Congress / FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Manhattan Madness