The Clown is a lost 1916 American silent drama film starring stage star Victor Moore and directed by William C. deMille. It was produced by Jesse Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures.
Contents
Plot summary
Piffle, a circus clown, is badly injured following his daring rescue of Judge Jonathan Le Roy's son from a team of bolting horses.
During his recovery, Piffle meets Millicent, the judge's daughter, who he falls in love with. Millicent, however, cannot love Piffle; her heart belongs to the father of her unborn child, Dick Ordway. Upon learning of Odway’s supposed demise in the desert, Millicent attempts suicide by drowning.
Piffle saves Millicent, proposing to marry her and offering to step into the role of father to her child. Desperate, Millicent accepts his offer. Her father, Judge Le Roy, insists Piffle leave circus life in order to take up the more respectable role of a banker.
The alive Dick Ordway returns to the fold following the unexpected financial success of his desert mine. Ordway attempts to buy back his shares, but Piffle, now a banker, refuses to sell to him. This leads Ordway back to the Le Roy household where he reunites with Millicent. Piffle realises that Millicent and Ordway are still in love and decides to step aside for her sake.
Piffle returns to the circus, where he finds true joy, not in the pursuit of love, but in bringing happiness to children.
Cast
Victor Moore as Piffle
Thomas Meighan as Dick Ordway
Ernest Joy as Judge Jonathan Le Roy
Florence Dagmar as Millicent, His Daughter
Gerald Ward as Jackie, His Son
Tom Forman as Bob Hunter
Horace B. Carpenter as Circus Manager
Wallace Pyke as Rollo
Billy Jacobs as Jonathan Le Roy Fox