Sally of the Sawdust
Poster
Directed byD. W. Griffith
Written byForrest Halsey
Based onPoppy
by Dorothy Donnelly
Produced byD. W. Griffith
StarringCarol Dempster
W. C. Fields
Alfred Lunt
Erville Alderson
Marie Shotwell
Glenn Anders
CinematographyHarry Fischbeck
Hal Sintzenich
Edited byRussell G. Shields
James Smith
Production
company
D.W. Griffith Productions
Distributed byUnited Artists
Paramount Pictures(UK, Canada, Australia)
Release date
  • August 2, 1925 (1925-08-02)
Running time
104 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)
Budget$337,000[2]
Box office$1,750,000[2]
The full film

Sally of the Sawdust is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring W. C. Fields. It was based on the 1923 stage musical Poppy.[3] Fields would later star in a second film version, Poppy (1936).

Plot

Because she married a circus performer, Judge Foster (Erville Alderson) casts out his only daughter. Just before her death a few years later, she leaves her little girl Sally (Carol Dempster) in the care of her friend McGargle (W. C. Fields), a good-natured crook, juggler and fakir. Sally grows up in this atmosphere and is unaware of her parentage. McGargle, realizing his responsibility to the child, gets a job with a carnival company playing at Great Meadows, where the Fosters live. A real estate boom has made them wealthy. Sally is a hit with her dancing. Peyton (Alfred Lunt), the son of Judge Foster's friend, falls in love with Sally. To save him, the Judge arranges to have McGargle and Sally arrested. McGargle escapes, but Sally is hunted down and brought back. McGargle, hearing of Sally's plight, steals a Flivver, and after many delays, reaches the courtroom and presents proof of Sally's parentage. The Judge dismisses the case and his wife takes Sally in her arms, but Peyton's claim is stronger and she agrees to become his wife. McGargle is persuaded to remain and is found an outlet for his peculiar talents in selling real estate.

Cast

Production

Sally of the Sawdust was filmed at Paramount Pictures' Long Island studios.[5]

References

  1. ^ Deschner, Donald (1966). The Films of W.C. Fields. New York: Cadillac Publishing by arrangement with The Citadel Press. pp. 38–39. Introduction by Arthur Knight
  2. ^ a b "Griffith's 20 Year Record". Variety. September 5, 1928. p. 12. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  3. ^ "Progressive Silent Film List: Sally of the Sawdust". silentera.com. Retrieved January 23, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c Sally of the Sawdust (1925) at IMDb, full cast and credits
  5. ^ Dick, Bernard F. (2001). Engulfed: The Death of Paramount Pictures and the Birth of Corporate Hollywood. p. 72. The University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-2202-3.

External links


Films directed by D. W. Griffith
Categories