Painted People

1924 film

January 28, 1924 (1924-01-28)

Running time

7 reelsCountryUnited StatesLanguageSilent (English intertitles)

Painted People is a 1924 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Clarence G. Badger and starring Colleen Moore. It was produced and distributed by Associated First National Pictures.^[1]^[2]

Plot

As described in a review of the film in a film magazine,^[3] Ellie Byrne (Moore) and Don Lane (Lyon), chums, living in the poor section of a factory town, go away to make their fortunes. Ellie wishes to become a lady so that she can marry Preston Dutton (Striker), a society chap, and Don becoming infatuated with Stephanie Parrish (Merriam), daughter of a wealthy man. Ellie becomes a leading actress and Don the author of her first play. Ellie refuses Dutton’s suit when she learns he is after her money, and Stephanie returns Don’s engagement ring. Ellie and Don go back to the factory town disillusioned. They realize that they love each other and in reality had not bettered themselves for someone else but for each other.

Cast

Colleen Moore as Ellie Byrne
Ben Lyon as Don Lane
Charlotte Merriam as Stephanie Parrish
Joseph Striker as Preston Dutton
Charles Murray as Tom Byrne
Russell Simpson as Fred Lane
Mary Alden as Mrs. Byrne
Mary Carr as Mrs. Lane
Sam De Grasse as Henry Parrish
June Elvidge as Mrs. Dutton
Anna Q. Nilsson as Leslie Carter
Bull Montana as Ed Decker

Preservation

With no copies of Painted People located in any film archives or collections,^[4] it is a lost film.

References

^ Progressive Silent Film List: Painted People at silentera.com
^ The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: Painted People (Wayback)
^ Smith, Sumner (February 9, 1924). "Painted People: Colleen Moore and Fine Cast in First National Picture". The Moving Picture World. 66 (6). New York City: Chalmers Publishing Co.: 489. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
^ The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: Painted People