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IMDbPro

A Small Town Idol

  • 19211921
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 10m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
70
YOUR RATING
A Small Town Idol (1921)
  • Action
  • Comedy
  • Romance
Sam, a young man in a small town, is accused of being a thief. Unable to prove his innocence--and not knowing that he's being framed by a local villain to keep him away from pretty young Mar... Read allSam, a young man in a small town, is accused of being a thief. Unable to prove his innocence--and not knowing that he's being framed by a local villain to keep him away from pretty young Mary, the town beauty whom the villain wants for himself--he leaves town and goes to Hollywoo... Read allSam, a young man in a small town, is accused of being a thief. Unable to prove his innocence--and not knowing that he's being framed by a local villain to keep him away from pretty young Mary, the town beauty whom the villain wants for himself--he leaves town and goes to Hollywood to become an actor. He eventually returns home to town as a star, but once again finds h... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
70
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Erle C. Kenton
    • Mack Sennett
  • Writers
    • John Grey
    • Raymond Griffith
    • Mack Sennett
  • Stars
    • Ben Turpin
    • James Finlayson
    • Phyllis Haver
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Erle C. Kenton
    • Mack Sennett
  • Writers
    • John Grey
    • Raymond Griffith
    • Mack Sennett
  • Stars
    • Ben Turpin
    • James Finlayson
    • Phyllis Haver
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 2User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos9

    Marie Prevost and Ben Turpin in A Small Town Idol (1921)
    Marie Prevost in A Small Town Idol (1921)
    Marie Prevost and Ben Turpin in A Small Town Idol (1921)
    Charles Murray and Ben Turpin in A Small Town Idol (1921)
    Marie Prevost in A Small Town Idol (1921)
    Phyllis Haver and Ben Turpin in A Small Town Idol (1921)
    Phyllis Haver, Charles Murray, Marie Prevost, and Ben Turpin in A Small Town Idol (1921)
    Phyllis Haver and Ben Turpin in A Small Town Idol (1921)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ben Turpin
    Ben Turpin
    • Sam Smithas Sam Smith
    James Finlayson
    James Finlayson
    • J. Wellington Jonesas J. Wellington Jones
    Phyllis Haver
    Phyllis Haver
    • Mary Brownas Mary Brown
    Bert Roach
    Bert Roach
    • Martin Brownas Martin Brown
    Al Cooke
    Al Cooke
    • Joe Barnumas Joe Barnum
    Charles Murray
    Charles Murray
    • Sheriff Wilbur Sparksas Sheriff Wilbur Sparks
    • (as Charlie Murray)
    Marie Prevost
    Marie Prevost
    • Marcelle Mansfieldas Marcelle Mansfield
    Dot Farley
    Dot Farley
    • Mrs. Smithas Mrs. Smith
    Eddie Gribbon
    Eddie Gribbon
    • Bandit Chiefas Bandit Chief
    Kalla Pasha
    • Bandit Chief's Rivalas Bandit Chief's Rival
    Billy Bevan
    Billy Bevan
    • Directoras Director
    George O'Hara
    George O'Hara
    • Cameramanas Cameraman
    John J. Richardson
    John J. Richardson
    • Screen Villainas Screen Villain
    • (as Jack Richardson)
    Louise Fazenda
    Louise Fazenda
    • Theatregoeras Theatregoer
    Lige Conley
    Lige Conley
    • Ministeras Minister
    • (as Lige Crommie)
    Jane Allen
    • Nurseas Nurse
    • (uncredited)
    Ralph Ceder
    • Nurseas Nurse
    • (uncredited)
    Andy Clyde
    Andy Clyde
    • Lynch Mob Memberas Lynch Mob Member
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Erle C. Kenton
      • Mack Sennett
    • Writers
      • John Grey
      • Raymond Griffith
      • Mack Sennett
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Debut of actress Derelys Perdue.
    • Goofs
      Throughout this short, some scenes had indicated some film cuts.
    • Connections
      Edited into A Small Town Idol (1939)

    User reviews2

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Missing In Action
    QUITE FRANKLY, WE must confess to never having seen the entire, original 70 minute feature version of this Mack Sennett Keystone Production of A SMALL TOWN IDOL. Is there anyone out there in cyberspace who has screened the whole thing?

    WE SUPPOSE THAT it is either very unfair or even impossible to review a movie which is only a fraction of what it was originally. The approximately 19 minutes we have just seen does an excellent job of telling a coherent story, providing its star, Mr. Ben Turpin an excellent environment in which to do his cockeyed thing. The highly abridged short version, which was released in 1939, does stand on its own.

    SOMEHOW OR OTHER the rights to this film passed into the hands of Harry, Albert Sam and Jack- the Brothers Warner and was released to the movie houses as part of their regular supply of two-reelers. Thus Ben Turpin, Charley Murray, Louise Fazenda, Dot Farley, Jimmie Finlayson, Andy Clyde and the famous Sennett Bathing Beauties all joined forces with the likes of the JOE McDOAKES Series in filling out the programs.

    WE HAD ANOTHER, previous exposure to A SMALL TOWN IDOL. That would be with the 8mm home movies that were so popular , up until the late 1970's. That period, of course, marked the coming of the Betamax and the VHS Home Recorder/Players; which rendered the old 8mm & Super 8 projectors obsolete.

    WE HAD PURCHASED this version at our local Sears, Roebuck & Co. store, located at 62nd & Western Avenue. That Southside Chicago location was the sight of many such movie items we bought, back in the day.

    EVEN AT THAT period, lacking a lot of experience and knowledge about film, we thought that there was something strange about that one reel home movie version. At first, we couldn't put our finger on it; but then it came to us! There were to many extras, to complex a plot, to many and too lavish a set to be devoted to a 2 Reel Comedy Short! It was 'elementary, Watson!' This version was only a snippet of a feature film.

    ONE PECULIAR FACT about these versions of A SMALL TOWN IDOL is the way that it bills silent film star, Ramon Navarro. In the original cast listings, he doesn't rate a mention, remaining uncredited. The 1939 'Short' was much kinder, showing him as being as a principal player; instead of having taken part in a brief, 'movie within a movie', dance ensemble.

    THIS REMINDS US of how Rudolph Valentino was 'discovered' doing that famous Tango in THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE.

    HOW"S THAT FOR a strange coincidence?
    helpful•1
    1
    • redryan64
    • Jun 30, 2014

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 13, 1921 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • None
    • Also known as
      • A Small Town Hero
    • Filming locations
      • Mack Sennett Studios, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Mack Sennett Comedies
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $350,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 10 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Silent
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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