The White Sin

1924 film

February 24, 1924 (1924-02-24)

Running time

6 reelsCountryUnited StatesLanguageSilent (English intertitles)

The White Sin is a 1924 silent romantic drama film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Madge Bellamy and John Bowers. It was distributed by Film Booking Offices of America (FBO).^[1]^[2]^[3]

Plot

As described in a review of the film in a film magazine,^[4] Hattie Lou Harkness’ (Bellamy) life with her aunt becomes unbearable and she runs away from the country home, finding employment as a maid with the wealthy Van Gores. Spencer Van Gore (Cooley) stages a mock wedding on board his yacht with the ship’s captain officiating. Learning of the trick, Hattie Lou leaves. Two years later she is out of work. Reading that the yacht has been wrecked and the party of Van Gores lost, she goes with her baby to the elder Van Gore’s home and poses as Spencer’s wife. Grant Van Gore (Bowers), a war invalid there, falls in love with her. Spencer turns up and Hattie Lou learns that the marriage was legal and binding, as the captain deliberately performed it outside the three-mile limit. Spencer dies when the Van Gore home burns, and Grant and Hattie Lou marry.

Cast

Madge Bellamy as Hattie Lou Harkness
John Bowers as Grant Van Gore
Francelia Billington as Grace Van Gore
Hallam Cooley as Spencer Van Gore
James Corrigan as Peter Van Gore
Billy Bevan as Travers Dale
Norris Johnson as Grace's aunt
Ethel Wales as Aunt Cynthia
Otis Harlan as Judge Langley
Myrtle Vane as Mrs. Van Gore
Arthur Millett as The Doctor
James Gordon as Yacht Captain

Preservation

A print is preserved in the Library of Congress.^[5]^[6]

References

^ The AFI Catalog of Feature Films 1893-1993:The White Sin
^ Progressive Silent Film List: The White Sin at silentera.com
^ Pictorial History of the Silent Screen, p. 261, c.193 by Daniel Blum
^ Smith, Sumner (February 23, 1924). "The White Sin: Palmer Corporation Scores Again in Second F. B. O. Release". The Moving Picture World. 66 (8). New York City: Chalmers Publishing Co.: 670. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
^ The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The White Sin
^ Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress, p. 208, c.1978 by The American Film Institute