The Next Corner (lost romantic melodrama film; 1924)

Poster for the film.

Status: Lost

The Next Corner is an American silent romantic melodrama film, released on February 18th, 1924. It was directed by Sam Wood, and starred Lon Chaney and Dorothy Mackaill. It was based on the romance novel of the same name by Kate Jordan. ^[1] Though the film is often referred to as a Lon Chaney film, he only had a small role in the film. It is also the first time in years he had played a role with little to no makeup.

Plot

Robert Maury (Conway Tearle), an American mining engineer, and his wife Elsie (Dorothy Mackaill), are honeymooning in Paris. Don Arturo (Ricardo Cortez), and handsome nobleman, rescues Elsie from the attentions of Jacques, a burly laborer. His aide, Juan Serafin (Lon Chaney), looks longingly at Elsie, and knowing the trap that Arturo's charms are setting for her. Maury must leave for the Argentine on business, while Elsie and her mother, Nina Race, remain behind. Arturo introduces them to Countess Longueval, the queen of the smart Parisian set. Paula Vrain, Arturo's previous favorite, takes the girl under her wing, and makes her the new queen of the chic fashion set. Maury returns to Paris and is shocked at the change in Elsie, but to ease the tension of their reunion, he urges her to accept an invitation by Mrs. Vrain to attend a house party at Arturo's hunting lodge.

Elsie arrives, accompanied by Serafin, but is shocked to learn that no other guests are there. Arturo attempts to seduce her, but she resists momentarily, taking the time to write her husband with a confession of her new love for Arturo. Arturo substitutes two blank pages for the confession, and burns the original. A stranger suddenly appears, accuses Arturo of seducing his daughter, and shoots him. Elsie, returns to Paris, and confides in her mother how they must intercept the letter to her husband. Serafin, believing Arturo's death was due to Elsie, delivers the letter to her husband. Elsie confesses all to her husband and urges him to read the letter, but when he opens the envelope he finds only the blank pages Arturo substituted. He forgives his wife and takes her in his arms. Serafin is found later, shot, clutching one of Elsie's handkerchiefs. ^[2]

Availability

The film, which consisted of Seven reels and ran at 70 minutes, is now considered entirely lost. The film was shown as late as April 4th, 1927, three years after its initial release. ^[3] It appears to have not been shown since. The film had poor reviews, and likely fell into obscurity before becoming lost.

Several stills from the film still exist.