What Fools Men

What Fools Men
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Directed by	George Archainbaud
Written by	Eve Unsell
Based on	Joseph Greer and His Daughter by Henry Kitchell Webster
Starring	Lewis Stone Shirley Mason Ethel Grey Terry
Cinematography	Norbert Brodine
Edited by	Bert Moore
Production company	First National Pictures
Distributed by	First National Pictures
Release date	September 6, 1925 (1925-09-06)
Running time	80 minutes
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

What Fools Men is a lost 1925 American silent drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Lewis Stone, Shirley Mason, and Ethel Grey Terry.^[1][2]

Plot

As described in a film magazine review,^[3] Joseph Greer has invented a new linen-making process and asks Williamson and his associates to finance him. Williamson and the others intend to swindle Greer, who gets his secretary, Jenny McFarlan to watch them. His wife, from whom he has been separated for years, wishes a divorce. Greer sends for his eighteen year old daughter whom he has never seen, and gives her an automobile and has her introduced into society. Mrs. Williamson attempts to make love to Greer, who repulses her. She tells Williamson that Greer has forced his attentions on her. This strengthens Williamson’s resolve to break him. Greer goes on a business trip and leaves his daughter in Jenny’s charge. Beatrice one night goes to a wild party, from which she is rescued by her chauffeur, who loves her. Greer finds her intoxicated and discharges the chauffeur. Beatrice runs away and marries the chauffeur and Williamson succeeds in breaking Greer. Greer begins to drink and finally disappears. Jenny locates him. He returns, is reunited with his daughter, and decides to begin a new life with Jenny as his partner.

Cast

• Lewis Stone as Joseph Greer
• Shirley Mason as Beatrice Greer
• Ethel Grey Terry as Violet Williamson
• Barbara Bedford as Jenny McFarlan
• John Patrick as Lancing Ware
• Hugh Allan as Burns
• David Torrence as Williamson
• Lewis Dayton as Henry Craven
• Joyce Compton as Dorothy
• Tom Wilson as Business Rival

Preservation

With no prints of What Fools Men located in any film archives,^[4] it is a lost film.^[5]

References

1. Jacobs p. 340
2. Progressive Silent Film List: What Fools Men at silentera.com
3. "New Pictures: What Fools Men", Exhibitors Herald, 23 (3), Chicago, Illinois: Exhibitors Herald Company: 59, October 10, 1925, retrieved October 9, 2022 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
4. The Library of Congress/FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: What Fools Men
5. What Fools Men at Arne Andersen's Lost Film Files: Lost 1925 First National films

Bibliography

• Jacobs, Lea (2008). The Decline of Sentiment: American Film in the 1920s. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-25457-2

External links

• What Fools Men at IMDb
• Synopsis at AllMovie