Greater Than Fame

Greater Than Fame
Greater Than Fame
	Still
Directed by	Alan Crosland
Written by	S. Jay Kaufman; (story); Katherine S. Reed; (scenario)
Produced by	Selznick Pictures
Starring	Elaine Hammerstein; Walter McGrail
Cinematography	Jules Cronjager
Edited by	Cyril Gardner
Distributed by	Selznick Pictures
Release date	January 1920;
Running time	5 reels
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

Greater Than Fame is a 1920 American silent drama film produced and distributed by Selznick Pictures. It was directed by Alan Crosland and stars Elaine Hammerstein. It is not known whether the film currently survives.^[1]

Plot

As described in a film magazine,^[2] Margaret Brooke (Hammerstein), a young small town woman, is given an allowance of twenty dollars a week to go to the city to have her voice trained. She falls in with an elderly musician, who cares for her, and a young composer, with whom she falls in love. The Warings, wealthy and sophisticated, take an interest in Margaret, Mrs. Waring (Gordon) inviting her into their home so that she may see a gathering of successful artists and learn their shortcomings, while Philip Waring (Tooker), unprincipled, seeking to bring about her downfall. Margaret accepts, innocently, the apartment Mr. Waring secures for her. Her sweetheart sees Mr. Waring come to her apartment and misunderstands. She then goes to the home of the master of the Cosmopolitan Opera House, and he also makes undesirable advances. Returning to the home of the man she loves, she vindicates herself and the two begin their fight for fame together.

Cast

Elaine Hammerstein as Margaret Brooke
Walter McGrail as Jack Martin
William H. Tooker as Philip Waring (credited as W.H. Tooker)
Julia Swayne Gordon as Mrs. Waring
Albert Roccardi as Professor Guerdet
Cora Williams as Mrs. Guerdet
Johnnie Walker as Clarence (credited as John Walker)
Arthur Donaldson as Saxer
Florida Kingsley as Aunt Prudence (credited as Flora Kingsley)
Eugenie Woodward as Aunt Mercy
James A. Furey as Organist (credited as J. Furey)

Production

Director Alan Crosland hired internationally recognized dancer Mlle. Desiree Lubovska to appear in an upscale party sequence. Lubovska appears as a specialty dancer.^[3]^[4]

The working title of the film was Love or Fame?

References

^ Progressive Silent Film List: Greater Than Fame at silentera.com
^ "Reviews: Greater Than Fame". Exhibitors Herald. 10 (6). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 56. February 7, 1920.
^ "Famous Danseuse on Regent Screen." Ottawa Citizen, March 13, 1920; Web July 20, 2015
^ "Movie Program of the Week." Pittsburgh Press, February 8, 1920, p. 4; Web July 20, 2015