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Romance (1920 film)

Romance
Romance (1920) - Sydney & Keane.jpg
Film still with Sydney and Keane
Directed by Chester Withey
Produced by ?Doris Keane (copyright)
?Albert Grey (copyright)
Written by Wells Hastings (scenario)
Based on Romance
by Edward Sheldon
Starring Doris Keane
Basil Sydney
Cinematography Louis Bitzer
Distributed by United Artists
Release date
  • May 30, 1920 (1920-05-30)
Running time
70 minutes (7 reels)
Country United States
Language Silent (English intertitles)

Romance is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Chester Withey and released through United Artists. The film is based on the 1913 play Romance by Edward Sheldon and stars Doris Keane, the actress who created the role in the play. This was Miss Keane's only motion picture. D.W. Griffith allowed the use of his Mamaroneck Studios for the production. The nephew of Griffith's favorite cameraman, Billy Bitzer, was the cinematographer. The story was later remade as Romance in 1930, an early talking vehicle for Greta Garbo.

No copies of Romance are known to survive making it another lost film.

As described in a film publication, a youth (Arthur Rankin) in the prologue seeks advice from his grandfather (Sydney), who then recalls a romance of his own youth which is then shown as a flashback. A priest (Sydney) is in love with an Italian opera singer (Keane), and the drama involves the conflict between his efforts to rise above worldly things or to leave with her. The romance ends with a deep note of pathos.

The movie was based on a hit play and was financed by fledgling United Artists. $150,000 was spent on the story and Doris Keane's salary. It went $100,000 over budget and recorded a loss of $80,000.


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