Fine Feathers is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Fred Sittenham and starring Eugene Pallette, Claire Whitney, Thomas W. Ross, Warburton Gamble and June Elvidge, produced and distributed by Metro Pictures Corporation. The library of Congress shows a release date of June 20, 1921 but there is evidence that Fine Feathers was being screened on June 18 at the Rose Theater in Santa Rosa California and as early as June 17 at the Star Theater in Monterey California. This production is the second movie adaptation of Eugene Walter's 1912 play of the same name. Three complete 35 mm copies were donated by M.G.M. to the U.S. Archive. A nitrate picture negative, an acetate positive print and an acetate fine grain master, all kept at the Eastman Museum in Rochester, NY.
Synopsis
Bob Reynolds is a young construction engineer, living with his pretty wife Jane in an old bungalow on Staten Island. He has become bitter because of his failure to get ahead and the fact that he is unable to get the clothes which he wishes for his wife. One night at the theater they witness the production of "Paid in Full" and Bob's sympathies are with the husband who succumbs to the temptation to steal, while Jane chides him, saying nothing should cause a man to be dishonest.
A few days later Bob receives a letter from John Brand, a shrewd conscienceless capitalist whom he has known in college. He asks Bob to visit him and after chiding the young engineer for always playing the game straight, he makes him a proposition which he says will place him on easy street and enable him to buy Jane the fine feathers she should wear. He offers Bob a large sum for accepting an inferior grade of cement for a dam which Bob's company is constructing, and after a struggle with his conscience, the young man accepts.
Two years pass and Bob and Jane enjoy the luxuries of the wealth that has come to them. Brand, however dislikes to see the young man enjoy the wealth and he persuades him to gamble in stocks which he manipulates until the young man is wiped out. Bob then sees himself for what he is, a sneak and a thief.
The crash comes one evening while Mr. and Mrs. Brand are entertaining guests. Bob attempts to drown his sorrow in drink and then confesses his plight to Jane, seeking to lay his downfall on her.
The memory of "Paid in Full" returns to Bob and he suggests that Jane go to Brand's apartments and plead with him. She accuses the man of deliberately ruining her husband and because he is fascinated with her, he consents to help them. But at this point word reaches them that the great dam with the inferior cement has broken and hundreds of persons have been swept to their doom. Bob confronts his wife with the news, insinuates she gave herself to Brand as payment for his help. She bitterly denies this, but in a drunken frenzy Bob goes to Brand's home, shoots him and then calling the police to tell them Brand has been killed, he places the gun to his own head and fires.
Cast
Eugene Pallette as Bob Reynolds
Claire Whitney as Jane Reynolds
Thomas W. Ross as Dick Meade
Warburton Gamble as John Brand
June Elvidge as Mrs. Brand
Production
On July 20, 1920, the New York Clipper writes that Fred Sittenham who is finishing filming Clothes has been selected by Maxwell Karger, Metro's Director General, to direct the upcoming production of Fine Feathers. Frederick Truesdell who is playing in The Gold Diggers on Broadway, is also said to have been hired for the role of John Brand but on September 26, 1920, The Illustrated Buffalo Express runs an article announcing that he was replaced by Warburton Gamble and that Truesdell was shifted to playing J.B. Hollis, Brand's partner.
Louise Huff was initially cast as Jane Reynolds but became ill. Metro went through dozens of actresses before they found Claire Whitney at the beginning of August 1920.