Deserted at the Altar is a 1922 American silent film melodrama directed by William K. Howard and produced by Phil Goldstone Productions. It stars Bessie Love and Tully Marshall.
The film is preserved at the Museum of Modern Art.
Plot
Two villains plan to steal the inheritance of Anna Moore (Love) by marrying her. When her brother Tommy (Lee) is hit by a car, the wealthy driver pays the doctor bills, and falls in love with Anna. This thwarts the villains' initial plans, so they go on to hire a woman to pose as the driver's estranged partner and mother of his child, and stop the wedding. When the woman reveals her true identity, the villains are exposed, and Anna and her rich fiancé are reunited.
Cast
Production
The film is a Poverty Row (Gower Street) production, and was filmed in only ten days.
Promotion and release
The film is notable for its then-novel methods of promotion, which included stunts, such as weddings in movie theaters, and staged "Just Married" car rides around town.
On its release, the film was shown with the short Fighting Blood in some theaters.
Reception
Generally, the film received positive reviews, although some reviewers thought that "Director Howard has used nearly two reels too much in telling the story" and the plot twists were not believable. There was speculation that more clear title would have improved theater attendance even more.
The film was commercially successful.
References
External links
- Deserted at the Altar at IMDb
- Deserted at the Altar at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
- Deserted at the Altar at the British Film Institute
