The Poor Boob

1919 film by Donald Crisp

March 9, 1919 (1919-03-09)

Running time

50 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageSilent (English intertitles)

The Poor Boob is a lost 1919 American silent comedy film directed by Donald Crisp and produced by Paramount Pictures.^[1]^[2] It starred Bryant Washburn, Wanda Hawley, Richard Rosson, Theodore Roberts, Raymond Hatton, and Jay Dwiggins.^[3]

Plot

As described in a film magazine,^[4] Simpson Hightower (Washburn), known as Simp, leaves his hometown as a failure. He has been cheated out of the local canning factory, which had been in the family for two generations, by Stephen Douglas (Hatton). Douglas also won Tiny (Thurman), the girl of Simp's dreams. Simp goes to New York and works at Platt's Provision Factory, and holds the job for a considerable time until he makes a bonehead mistake and gets fired. Henry Platt's (Roberts) stenographer, Hope (Hawley), who has become fond of Simp, concocts a scheme to reestablish Simp by his posing as a millionaire in a nearby town with her as his secretary and Jimmy Borden (Rosson), the office boy, as his valet. Simp decides to go Hightower, his hometown. The town makes great preparations for the return of its successful son, and Simp arrives and is greeted by its prominent citizens. With his luck turning, he closes a contract for Platt, his old employer, with a commission of $5,000. Douglas, who let the canning factory go to pieces, is willing to sell out for that amount. Simp buys the place and is immediately approached by Platt, who has received word that his factory has burned down. Since he cannot fulfill the contract, Platt demands return of the $5,000. But Simp takes over the contract, borrows some money from the town banker, and is well on the way to his fortune. As his boyhood sweetheart Tiny now weights two hundred pounds, his youthful illusion has faded and he begins to look to Hope with the eyes of love.

Cast

Bryant Washburn as Simpson Hightower
Wanda Hawley as Hope 'Pep' Sparks
Richard Rosson as Jimmy Borden
Theodore Roberts as Henry Platt
Raymond Hatton as Stephen Douglas
Jay Dwiggins as Benton
Charles Ogle as Tucker
Jane Wolfe as Mrs. Benton
Mary Thurman as Tiny Parcel
Guy Oliver as Hallock
Clarence Geldart as Mr. Swanson

References

^ The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Poor Boob
^ Janiss Garza (2015). "Poor-Boob - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - NYTimes.com". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
^ "The Poor Boob". AFI. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
^ "Reviews: The Poor Boob". Exhibitors Herald. 8 (13). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 36. March 22, 1919.