The Pleasure Buyers

1925 film

Louis D. Lighton
Hope Loring

Based onThe Pleasure Buyers
by Arthur Somers RocheStarring

Irene Rich
Clive Brook
Gayne Whitman

CinematographyJoseph Walker

Production
company

Warner Bros.

Distributed byWarner Bros.

Release date

December 19, 1925 (1925-12-19)

Running time

70 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageSilent (English intertitles)

The Pleasure Buyers is a 1925 American silent mystery drama film directed by Chester Withey and starring Irene Rich, Clive Brook, and Gayne Whitman.^[1] It was made by Warner Bros. In 1926 it was released in Britain by Gaumont British Distributors.^[2]^[3]

Plot

As described in a film magazine review,^[4] Gene Cassenas, a careless gambler, is engaged to Helen Ripley. In an effort to save Helen from Gene's fascination, Joan Wiswell arouses his antagonism. After an exciting night here he quarrels with several different persons, Gene is shot fatally while sitting at his Palm Beach home by someone hidden in the dark outside. Former police commissioner Tad Workman is called in to investigate. Six persons are under investigation: a valet, society beauty Joan, her brother Tommy, former business associate Terry, fiancée Helen, and the latter's father. Suspicion regarding the murder falls on Joan because of the argument. After investigation, it is shown that the valet rigged a wall clock to fire a gun at a certain time. With Joan cleared, she and Tad are free to marry.

Cast

Irene Rich as Joan Wiswell
Clive Brook as Tad Workman
Gayne Whitman as Gene Cassenas
June Marlowe as Helen Ripley
Chester Conklin as Burke
Don Alvarado as Tommy Wiswell
Edward Peil Sr. as Kildare
Frank Campeau as Quintard
Winter Hall as General Ripley
Frank Leigh as Terry

Preservation status

A print of The Pleasure Buyers is held at Museum of Modern Art.^[5]

References

^ Goble p. 394
^ Progressive Silent Film List: The Pleasure Buyers Archived February 23, 2017, at the Wayback Machine at silentera.com
^ "The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: The Pleasure Buyers". Archived from the original on February 23, 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
^ Elliott, Frank (February 13, 1926), "Pre-Release Review of Features: The Pleasure Buyers", Motion Picture News, 33 (6), New York City, New York: Motion Picture News, Inc.: 807, retrieved February 7, 2023 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ "The Library of Congress / FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Pleasure Buyers". Archived from the original on February 23, 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2017.