The Lone Wolf (film)

For the 1977 Soviet film, see Lone Wolf (film).

The Lone Wolf
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Directed by	Herbert Brenon
Produced by	Herbert Brenon
Screenplay by	George Edwardes-Hall
Based on	The Lone Wolf by Louis Joseph Vance
Starring	Bert Lytell Hazel Dawn
Cinematography	J. Roy Hunt
Edited by	James McKay
Production company	Herbert Brenon Film Corporation
Distributed by	Lewis J. Selznick Enterprises
Release dates	July 30, 1917 (1917-07-30)
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

The Lone Wolf is a 1917 American silent drama film based on the 1914 novel The Lone Wolf by Louis Joseph Vance. It was adapted for the screen by George Edwardes-Hall and was directed by Herbert Brenon. The film stars Bert Lytell and Hazel Dawn. The film was produced by Brenon and distributed by Lewis J. Selznick Enterprises. Its survival status is classified as unknown, which suggests that it is a lost film.

Synopsis

Burke is a master crook who adopts a young boy (Marcel) after the boy saves him from being arrested by the police. Burke then teaches the youngster how to be a crook, and after he becomes a master in the profession, he changes his name and works as Michael Lanyard. The Paris police give him the moniker of "The Lone Wolf", due to his unique work in the profession. However, a gang of criminals (The Pack) has taken notice of his clever work, and tell him that unless he joins their gang, they will destroy him. Lucy is an undercover agent posing as a crook to infiltrate the gang, and goes on to help the Wolf escape the gang via a plane to England. The Pack follows them, but are killed in a plane crash. After the gang is killed, "The Wolf" swears he will go straight and he eventually marries Lucy.

Cast

• Hazel Dawn - Lucy Shannon
• Bert Lytell - Michael Lanyard (The Lone Wolf)
• Cornish Beck - Marcel
• Stephen Grattan - Burke
• Alfred Hickman - Eckstrom
• Ben Graham - Thibault
• Robert Fisher - Bannon
• William Riley Hatch - De Moriban
• Joseph Chailles - Popinot
• William E. Shay - Werthheimer
• Edward Abeles - Ducroy
• Florence Ashbrooke - Madame Troyon
• Juliet Brenon - Thibault's maid

Background

The character The Lone Wolf was a popular crime figure in theaters from 1917 to 1949, and was featured in at least twenty-four films. The character was initially developed by Vance in his 1914 novel of the same name. Selznick later purchased the rights from Vance for his 1917 film. Bert Lytell was the first actor to play the role, but Warren Williams who appeared in at least eight films featuring the character, was arguably the most closely associated with the role. In 1948, the Mutual Radio Network broadcast a radio series featuring Gerald Mohr as the title character, which aired for about six months. In 1954, a television series was created based on Vance's character with Louis Hayward playing the title role. The series was in syndication for one season with 39 episodes produced. The show was also sometimes titled Streets of Danger.

Reviews and reception

Joseph L. Kelley wrote in his review for the Motion Picture News, that the film was "a most remarkable production, bristling with tense moments, strong action, human incidents and powerful drama". Kelley praised Lytell's performance, stating that he "moves with the agility and pep of a Fairbanks", while Hazel Dawn is noted as being "average" in her performance. A review in The New York Clipper, said the film "is a criterion in intense melodrama of the most advanced style. Its embellishments, refinements and polish is the last word in modern picture plays". The Clipper also reported that the film had "gone over heavier than any big feature shown in New York within the last year", and that Selznick had received a big advance demand for the film throughout the country.

External links

• The Lone Wolf at IMDb