Open Your Eyes (1919 film) explained

Open Your Eyes
Director:Gilbert P. Hamilton
Starring:Faire Binney
Mrs. Joupert
Jack Hopkins
Halbert Brown
Eddie Beryll
Emily Marceau
Viola Allen
Ben Lyon
Gaston Glass
Studio:State Health Films Inc.
Warner Bros.
Distributor:Warner Bros.
Runtime:70 minutes
Country:United States
Language:Silent (English intertitles)

Open Your Eyes is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by Gilbert P. Hamilton, and starring Faire Binney, Mrs. Joupert, Jack Hopkins, Halbert Brown, Eddie Beryll, Emily Marceau, Viola Allen, Ben Lyon, and Gaston Glass. Intended to warn about venereal disease and shot in The Bronx in 1917,[1] the film was given a general release by Warner Bros. in May 1919.[2] [3] [4] Jack L. Warner, one of the founders of Warner Bros., has a cameo appearance as a World War I soldier.

Cast

Reception

As a sex hygiene film, Open Your Eyes was subject to censorship restrictions and often was shown as an adults only film, but continued to be shown as an exploitation film. In 1927, the New Jersey branch of the Motion Picture Theater Owners of America warned theaters not to show this "salacious and risqué" film, citing common decency and the risk that it would bring calls for censorship.[5]

Preservation

A print of the film reportedly survives in a foreign archive.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/O/OpenYourEyes1919.html Progressive Silent Film List: Open Your Eyes
  2. Web site: Open Your Eyes. afi.com. 21 December 2017.
  3. Web site: Open Your Eyes. AllMovie. 21 December 2017.
  4. Web site: Open Your Eyes. TCM.com. 21 December 2017.
  5. Indecent Films Draw Warning from N.J. Pres.: Questionable Pictures Being Made — Bring Censoring Troubles . . 88 . 4 . 5 . Variety, Inc. . New York City . August 10, 1927 . June 6, 2023.
  6. http://lcweb2.loc.gov:8081/diglib/ihas/loc.mbrs.sfdb.8038/default.html American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: Open Your Eyes