Excuse My Dust (1920 film)

Excuse My Dust!
Excuse My Dust!
	Ad for the film
Directed by	Sam Wood
Written by	Will M. Ritchey (scenario)
Based on	The Bear Trap; 1919 story in The Saturday Evening Post; by Byron Morgan
Produced by	Adolph Zukor; Jesse Lasky
Starring	Wallace Reid
Cinematography	Alfred Gilks
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	May 21, 1920;
Running time	5 reels; 4,330 feet
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

Excuse My Dust! is a surviving^[1] 1920 American silent comedy-drama film produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is based upon a Saturday Evening Post short story "The Bear Trap" by Byron Morgan. Sam Wood directed Wallace Reid. Reid's young son, Wallace Jr., makes his first screen appearance here. This film is preserved in the Library of Congress.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Plot

As described in a film magazine,^[5] "Toodles" Walton (Reid), former automobile racer, has promised his wife Dorothy (Little) that he will refrain from speeding. But he gives into temptation and, through the influence of his father-in-law Mr. Ward (Roberts), the judge deprives him of the right to pilot a car for six months. Troubled times follow Toodles. He nearly runs over and kills his child, his wife leaves him, and his father-in-law's automobile business, of which he is manager, is being plotted against by its competitors. An automobile race from Los Angeles to San Francisco is planned by the competitors in hope of obtaining the plans of Ward's new motor. A midnight auto race, a collision, and an exciting finish puts Toodles in San Francisco, where his child is ill. The competing company fails in its scheme and Toodles' wife forgives him.

Cast

Wallace Reid as 'Toodles' Walton
Wallace Reid Jr. as 'Toodles' Jr.
Ann Little as Dorothy Ward Walden
Theodore Roberts as J.D. Ward
Guy Oliver as Darby
Otto Brower as Max Henderson
Tully Marshall as President Mutchler
Walter Long as Ritz

unbilled

James Gordon as Griggs
Jack Herbert as Oldham
Fred Huntley as Police Magistrate
Byron Morgan (minor role)
Will M. Ritchey (minor role)

References

^ Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress (<-book title) p.52 c.1978 by The American Film Institute
^ Progressive Silent Film List: Excuse My Dust at silentera.com
^ The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Film: 1911-20 by The American Film Institute, c. 1988
^ The AFI Catalog of Feature Films:Excuse My Dust
^ "Reviews: Excuse My Dust". Exhibitors Herald. 10 (12). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 53. March 20, 1920.