Java Head (1923 film)

Java Head
Java Head
	Lobby poster
Directed by	George Melford
Story by	Waldemar Young (story and adaptation)
Based on	Java Head; by Joseph Hergesheimer
Starring	Leatrice Joy; Jacqueline Logan; Alan Roscoe
Cinematography	Bert Glennon; Charles G. Clarke
Production; company	Famous Players–Lasky
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	January 28, 1923 (U.S.);
Running time	80 minutes
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)
Budget	200,000

Java Head is a 1923 American silent romantic drama film directed by George Melford and starring Leatrice Joy, Jacqueline Logan, Frederick Strong, Alan Roscoe, and Betty Bronson in a bit part. It is based on a popular novel of the same name by Joseph Hergesheimer,^[1] which in turn is named after the geographical feature.

Java Head was remade in a 1934 British sound film starring Anna May Wong which was released by Associated Talking Pictures.

Plot

As described in a film magazine,^[2] during the late 1840s wealthy retired sea captain Jeremy Ammidon (Strong) lives with his children and grandchildren in a house known as "Java Head" in Salem, Massachusetts. Jeremy's son William (Hall) manages the family business. Gerrit Ammidon (Roscoe), skipper of the Nautilus in its oriental trade, loves Nettie Vollar (Logan), a granddaughter of Barzil Dunsack (Fawcett), an enemy of Jeremy. Barzil orders Gerrit out of his house. In China, Gerrit rescues Taou Yuen (Joy) from a gang of ruffians. Her father, a Manchu noble, orders the two to be wed or slain. Gerrit marries Taou and brings her to Salem where her appearance causes consternation among the Ammidon family and Nettie to become ill. Edward Dunsack (Hatton), a drug addict, is fascinated by Taou and tries to turn her mind against Gerrit. Edward tells her that Gerrit loves Nettie, whom she has seen at a party, but Taou repulses him. Nettie learns that Gerrit still loves her and is visited by Taou, who then takes an overdose of opium and dies. Nettie and Gerrit are wed and sail away on the Nautilus.

Cast

Leatrice Joy as Taou Yuen
Jacqueline Logan as Nettie Vollar
Frederick Strong as Jeremy Ammidon
Alan Roscoe as Gerrit Ammidon (probably credited as Albert Roscoe)
Arthur Stuart Hall as William Ammidon
Rose Tapley as Rhoda Ammidon
Violet Axzelle as Laurel Ammidon
Audrey Berry as Sisall Ammidon
Polly Archer as Camilla Ammidon
Betty Bronson as Janet Ammidon
George Fawcett as Barzil Dunsack
Raymond Hatton as Edward Dunsack
Helen Lindroth as Kate Vollar
Dan Pennell as Broadrick
George S. Stevens as The Butler
Mimi Sherwood as The Maid
Frances Hatton as The Nurse

Production notes

Exterior scenes were shot on location in Salem, Massachusetts, where the film is also set.^[3]

Preservation

No copies of Java Head are listed in any film archives,^[4]^[1] which suggests that it is a lost film.

Gallery

Film poster
Film still with Leatrice Joy
Jacqueline Logan and Leatrice Joy
Filming on Hardy Street in Salem, October 1922

References

^ ^a ^b Progressive Silent Film List: Java Head at silentera.com
^ "Java Head: Paramount Photoplay in Eight Parts". Exhibitor's Trade Review. 13 (12). East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania: Exhibitor's Trade Review, Inc.: 627 February 17, 1923.
^ Sherwood, Robert Emmet (1923). The Best Moving Pictures of ... Also Who's who in the Movies and the Yearbook of the American Screen. Small, Maynard. p. 104.
^ Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: Java Head