The Devil's Claim

The Devil's Claim is a 1920 American silent drama film starring Sessue Hayakawa and Colleen Moore.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} A print of this film survives.^[6][7][8]

The Devil's Claim
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Charles Swickard
Written by	J. Grubb Alexander (screenplay and story)
Produced by	George W. Stout
Starring	Sessue Hayakawa Colleen Moore Rhea Mitchell
Cinematography	Frank D. Williams
Production company	Haworth Pictures Corporation
Distributed by	Robertson-Cole Distributing Corporation
Release date	May 2, 1920 (1920-05-02)
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

Plot

As summarized in a film publication,^[9] Akbar Khan, a novelist in New York, uses his love affairs as inspiration for his books. His current affair is with Indora, a Persian girl. However, the passion has left the relationship and he casts her out. Social worker Virginia Crosby comes to her aid and pretends to fall for Khan. He is inspired to write about "The Devil’s Trademark" (this was the working title of the film), an adaption of a serial for a popular magazine. The film flashes to his vision of the story, which is set in Paris with Khan as the hero Hassan. Hassan's companion in the story is a beautiful Hindu woman. The story includes a stolen talisman, a blindfolded marriage, Egyptian sorceresses, a sect of devil worshipers, and reincarnated evil spirits. Virginia then leaves Khan before the story is finished, and sends for Indora, who steps into her place.

Cast

• Sessue Hayakawa as Akbar Khan/Hassan
• Rhea Mitchell as Virginia Crosby
• Colleen Moore as Indora
• William Buckley as Spencer Wellington
• Sidney Payne as Kemal
• Joe Wray as Salim

References

1. Miyao, Daisuke (March 28, 2007). Sessue Hayakawa: Silent Cinema and Transnational Stardom. Duke University Press. p. 176. ISBN 978-0-8223-3969-4.
2. Soister, John T. (2012). American Silent Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Feature Films, 1913-1929. McFarland. p. 142. ISBN 978-0-7864-8790-5.
3. Langman, Larry (January 1, 1998). American Film Cycles: The Silent Era. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 236. ISBN 978-0-313-30657-0.
4. Ford, Jamie (September 10, 2013). Songs of Willow Frost. Allison & Busby, Limited. p. 109. ISBN 978-0-7490-1463-6.
5. Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research. Society for Psychical Research (Great Britain). 1928. p. 267.
6. Progressive Silent Film List: The Devil's Claim at silentera.com
7. Bean, Jennifer M. (July 12, 2011). Flickers of Desire: Movie Stars of the 1910s. Rutgers University Press. p. 112. ISBN 978-0-8135-5072-5.
8. "7,200 Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films (1912-29) National Film Preservation Board (January 2021) - (Current as of 02.04.2021)" (PDF). LOC.GOV. February 4, 2021. Some recent "finds" now removed from this list:...
9. "The Devil's Claim: Japanese Star in Fantastic, Involved Story". Motion Picture News. 21 (22). New York City: Motion Picture News, Inc.: 4404 May 22, 1920. Retrieved April 11, 2014.

Bibliography

• Jeff Codori (2012), Colleen Moore; A Biography of the Silent Film Star, McFarland Publishing, (Print ISBN 978-0-7864-4969-9, EBook ISBN 978-0-7864-8899-5).

External links

• Alt Film Guide page for the film
• BFI page for the film
• The Devil's Claim at IMDb
• The Devil's Claim at the TCM Movie Database
• NY Times review
• The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Devil's Claim