Brown of Harvard (1918) - Turner Classic Movies

Brown of Harvard


1918

Brief Synopsis

Tom Brown shows up at Harvard, confident and a bit arrogant. He becomes a rival of Bob McAndrew, not only in football and rowing crew, but also for the affections of Mary Abbott, a professor's daughter.

Film Details

Also Known As
Tom Brown at Harvard
Genre
Adaptation
Release Date
Jan 10, 1918
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Selig Polyscope Co.; Perfection Pictures
Distribution Company
George Kleine System
Country
United States
Location
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the play Brown of Harvard by Rida Johnson Young (New York, 26 Feb 1906) and the novel of the same name by Johnson and Gilbert P. Coleman (New York, 1907).

Technical Specs

Sound
Silent
Color
Black and White
Film Length
6 reels

Synopsis

Tom Brown, the leader of the rich set at Harvard, is engaged to Evelyn Ames, whose brother Wilton, a gambler and a coward, is secretly married to Marian Thorne. Marian, aware that Wilton often borrows money from Tom, goes to his room looking for her husband, and when Evelyn pays an unexpected visit, she assumes that Tom is having an affair and breaks their engagement. Meanwhile, Marian's brother Gerald, who is working his way through college, is appointed stroke oar on the college rowing team. On the day of the contest, Victor Colton, a professional gambler to whom Wilton is in debt, schemes to eliminate Gerald from the race so that Harvard will lose. To accomplish this, Colton sends a forged letter to him at the last moment, purporting to come from Marian and telling him of her betrayal by Tom. Gerald, in a rage, refuses to row and leaves in search of his sister. Tom, his substitute, steps in and the crew wins. Tom is then celebrated as a hero until Gerald publicly accuses him of betraying Marion. However, he is exonerated when Wilton finally garners the courage to admit his marriage to Marion, and Evelyn, ashamed at her lack of faith, begs Tom's forgiveness.

Film Details

Also Known As
Tom Brown at Harvard
Genre
Adaptation
Release Date
Jan 10, 1918
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Selig Polyscope Co.; Perfection Pictures
Distribution Company
George Kleine System
Country
United States
Location
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the play Brown of Harvard by Rida Johnson Young (New York, 26 Feb 1906) and the novel of the same name by Johnson and Gilbert P. Coleman (New York, 1907).

Technical Specs

Sound
Silent
Color
Black and White
Film Length
6 reels

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

The working title of this film was Tom Brown at Harvard. Portions of this Picture were actually filmed at Harvard. Some reviews mistakenly credited the film to Essanay and Edison. This film was re-released in 1919 through state rights distributors. The film was re-made in 1926 by M-G-M, directed by Jack Conway and starring Jack Pickford. (See AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1921-30; F2.0665.)