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The Darling of Paris

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For the 1931 film, see The Darling of Paris (1931 film).
The Darling of Paris
Directed byJ. Gordon Edwards
Written byAdrian Jackson (scenario)
Based onThe Hunchback of Notre-Dame
by Victor Hugo
Produced byWilliam Fox
StarringTheda Bara
Glen White
CinematographyPhil Rosen
Distributed byFox Film Corporation
Release date
  • January 22, 1917 (1917-01-22)
Running time
60 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

The Darling of Paris is a 1917 American silent romantic drama film directed by J. Gordon Edwards and starring Theda Bara and Glen White. It was a very loose film adaptation of the 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo. It was produced by William Fox. The Darling of Paris was later re-edited from six to five reels and re-released by Fox on February 16, 1919. The film is now considered lost.[1]

Plot

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The wealthy girl Esmeralda (Theda Bara) is kidnapped by gypsies at birth and becomes, as one might assume, the darling of Paris. She is loved by the bell ringer and former hunchback Quasimodo (Glen White), Frollo (Walter Law), the wicked surgeon who cares for him, and an equally wicked Captain Phoebus (Herbert Heyes).

However, the titular hunchback is downplayed in favor of gypsy dancing girl Esmerelda. The surgeon kills the Captain and frames Esmeralda, but after many merry mix-ups, she winds back with her wealthy family, happily wed to Quasimodo.

Cast

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Theda Bara Esmeralda
Glen White Quasimodo
Walter Law Claude Frollo
Herbert Heyes Captain Phoebus
Carey Lee Paquette
John Webb Dillon Clopin Trouillefou
Louis Dean Pierre Gringoire
Alice Gale Gypsy Queen

Production notes

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The film was shot at the Fox Studios then located in Fort Lee, New Jersey. An elaborate set was constructed on the back lot to recreate Paris where the film is set. The set also included a reproduction of the Notre Dame de Paris.[2]

Brazil

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The release in Brazil was done with the title A Favorita de Paris on September 17, 1917, on the cinemas Ideal[3] and Pathé, both from Rua da Carioca 60–62, Rio de Janeiro. It also debuted on Cine Haddock Lobo on September 30, 1917.[4] Cinema Haddock Lobo was located near the Largo da Segunda-Feira, in a street of several theaters. Cine Ideal belonged to the group Severiano Ribeiro, which still holds in its storehouse old silent films. For over a month it grossed a huge box office and was a success of public and critical acclamation on Rio society.

The highest-grossing releases in September on Rio:

Release Cinema Film Leading Enterprise
Sept. 17, 1917 ODEON Em Casa Alheia (A Kentucky Cinderella) Ruth Clifford Bluebird Photoplays
Sept. 17, 1917 PALAIS Implacável Destino (The Gown of Destiny) Alma Rubens Triangle Film Corporation
Sept. 17, 1917 PATHÉ A Favorita de Paris (The Darling of Paris) Theda Bara Fox-Film
Sept. 17, 1917 IDEAL A Favorita de Paris (The Darling of Paris) Theda Bara Fox-Film
Sept. 17, 1917 AVENIDA A Cruz da Vitória (The Victoria Cross) Lou Tellegen Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company
Sept. 10, 1917 PARISIENSE Os Maridos da Divorciada (The Men She Married) Gail Kane, Montagu Love Peerless Productions
Sept. 03, 1917 OLYMPIA Palermas e Malandrins (Haystacks and Steeples) Bobby Vernon, Gloria Swanson Keystone Film Company
Aug. 20, 1917 VELO Vítima da Tentação (Her Temptation) Gladys Brockwell Fox-Film
Aug. 20, 1917 ESTRELLA Porta do Amor (A Love Case) Harry Depp Triangle Film Corporation
Aug. 13, 1917 ÍRIS Judex (Judex) René Cresté Société des Etablissements L. Gaumont

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Silent Era: Darling of Paris". silentera. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
  2. ^ Fort Lee: Birthplace of the Motion Picture Industry. Arcadia Publishing. 2006. p. 34. ISBN 0-738-54501-5.
  3. ^ A FAVORITA DE PARIS (The Darling of Paris) Brazil release Cine Ideal: Sept. 17, 1917
  4. ^ A FAVORITA DE PARIS (The Darling of Paris) Brazil release Cine Haddock Lobo: Sept. 30, 1917
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