Kismet (1920 film)

Kismet is an American silent film version of the 1911 play Kismet by Edward Knoblock, starring Otis Skinner and Elinor Fair, and directed by Louis J. Gasnier.

Kismet
sheet music cover with film scenes
Directed by	Louis J. Gasnier
Written by	Charles E. Whittaker (scenario)
Based on	Kismet 1911 play by Edward Knoblock
Starring	Otis Skinner
Cinematography	Tony Gaudio Glen MacWilliams Joseph du Bray
Music by	Carl Edouarde
Production company	Waldorf Film Corporation
Distributed by	Robertson-Cole
Release date	November 14, 1920 (1920-11-14)
Running time	5 reels
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

Skinner's daughter, author Cornelia Otis Skinner, plays a small role. This version was released by Robertson-Cole Distributing Company, and was released on VHS by Grapevine Video. In New England the distribution of the film was handled by Joseph P. Kennedy who organized a successful premiere in Boston.

Skinner filmed the play again in a 1930 talkie. The 1930 version is considered lost but its Vitaphone soundtrack survives.

Cast

• Otis Skinner as Hajj the Beggar
• Rosemary Theby as Kut-al-Kulub
• Elinor Fair as Marsinah
• Marguerite Comont as Nargis
• Nicholas Dunaew as Nasir
• Herschel Mayall as Jawan
• Fred Lancaster as Zayd
• Leon Bary as Caliph Abdullah
• Sidney Smith as Jester
• Hamilton Revelle as Wazir Mansur
• Tom Kennedy as Kutayt
• Sam Kaufman as Amru
• Emmett King as Wazir Abu Bakr
• Fanny Ferrari as Gulnar
• Emily Seville as Kabirah

Bibliography

• Beauchamp, Cari. Joseph P. Kennedy's Hollywood Years. Faber and Faber, 2009

External links

• Kismet at IMDb
• Kismet; allmovie.com
• Kismet at the TCM Movie Database
• Kismet at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
• Kramer, Fritzi (March 9, 2014), Kismet (1920) A Silent Film Review, at moviessilently.com