Experience (1921 film)

Experience
Experience
	1921 theatrical poster
Directed by	George Fitzmaurice
Written by	Waldemar Young (scenario)
Based on	Experience; by George V. Hobart
Produced by	Adolph Zukor; Jesse L. Lasky
Starring	Richard Barthelmess; Lilyan Tashman; Reginald Denny; Marjorie Daw
Cinematography	Arthur C. Miller
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	October 23, 1921;
Running time	70 minutes
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

Experience is a 1921 American silent morality drama film produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The allegorical film was directed by George Fitzmaurice and starred Richard Barthelmess. It was based on George V. Hobart's successful 1914 Broadway play of the same name.^[1] It was the film debut of Lilyan Tashman.

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Experience is presumed to be a lost film.^[2]

Youth (Richard Barthelmess) hears Ambition's call and leaves his mother (Kate Bruce) and Love (Marjorie Daw) to seek his fortune.^[3]
Experience (John Miltern) is to teach Youth many things about life.^[3]
Youth encounters Pleasure, Beauty, and Wealth. He asks Opportunity to wait for him. But Opportunity cannot!^[3]
Youth is enthralled by Pleasure (Lilyan Tashman) and, while Experience looks on, is welcomed into the gay party.^[3]
Youth's funds run low and Chance directs him to a gambling house where he can double his money. At first he wins, but later luck leaves him.^[3]
Temptation (Nita Naldi) fascinates Youth. She intercepts a letter telling Youth of his mother's death.^[3]
Experience meanwhile teaches Youth to know Excitement (Sibyl Carmen).^[3]
Smirking Conceit (Robert Schable) with his ever-present mirror.^[3]
And Intoxication (an all-too-present companion) (Helen Ray).^[3]
And - eventually - the sanctimonious Prohibition (Leslie King).^[3]
Finally, accused of theft, Youth is ejected to the gutter.^[3]
Crime (Louis Wolheim) seeks to persuade Youth to rob Wealth's house.^[3]
But Youth returns home, where Love and Hope await.^[3]
With Love by his side, Youth is enriched by Experience.^[3]

Richard Barthelmess as Youth
Reginald Denny (unidentified role)
John Miltern as Experience
Marjorie Daw as Love
E. J. Ratcliffe as Ambition
Betty Carpenter as Hope
Kate Bruce as Mother
Lilyan Tashman as Pleasure
R. Senior as Opportunity
Joseph W. Smiley as Chance
Fred Hadley as Tout
Harry J. Lane as Despair
Helen Ray as Intoxication
Jed Prouty as Good Nature
Barney Furey as Poverty
Charles A. Stevenson as Wealth
Edna Wheaton as Beauty
Yvonne Routon as Fashion
Ned Hay as Sport
Sibyl Carmen as Excitement
Robert Schable as Conceit
Nita Naldi as Temptation
Frank Evans as Work
Frank McCormack as Delusion
Louis Wolheim as Crime
Agnes Marc as Habit
Mrs. Gallagher as Degradation
Florence Flinn as Frailty
Mac Barnes as Makeshift
Leslie King as Gloom
Leslie Banks (unidentified role)

Some of the minor roles were filled through contests held in various cities, which gave advance publicity for the film. For example, Edna Wheaton was selected for the role of "Beauty" through a contest run by the New York Daily News.^[4]