Stolen Moments | 1920 | Romance, Drama

Title: Stolen Moments | 1920 | Romance, Drama (catalog.afi.com) Director: James Vincent (catalog.afi.com) Studio: American Cinema Corporation (catalog.afi.com) Starring: Marguerite Namara, Rudolph Valentino, Albert L. Barrett, Aileen Pringle (catalog.afi.com) Based on: Story by H. Thompson Rich (catalog.afi.com) Release Date: December 1920 (catalog.afi.com) Runtime: 35 minutes (en.wikipedia.org) Format: Silent; black-and-white; 35 mm; 1.33:1 (silentera.com) Country: United States (catalog.afi.com) Language: Silent (English intertitles) (catalog.afi.com) Genres: Romance, Drama (en.wikipedia.org) --- Summary: In Florida, young Vera Blaine becomes infatuated with charismatic South American novelist José Dalmarez. When she discovers his intentions are not honorable, she retreats to marry her guardian, attorney Hugh Conway, only to fear that her earlier letters and inscriptions could be used to ruin her marriage. (catalog.afi.com) Vera’s attempt to retrieve the incriminating items leads to a violent confrontation, a death, and an investigation that entangles figures from Brazil and the United States. Themes of seduction, reputation, and self-preservation unfold as past indiscretions threaten present respectability. (catalog.afi.com) --- Background: Produced by American Cinema Corporation and released by Pioneer Film Corporation, Stolen Moments was shot on location in St. Augustine, Florida, and Savannah, Georgia. Initially a six‑reel vehicle for opera star Marguerite Namara, it was reedited to three reels and reissued in November 1922 to capitalize on Rudolph Valentino’s breakthrough stardom; the shorter reissue is the only version known to survive. The film is notable as Valentino’s last screen appearance as a villain prior to his rise as a romantic lead. (catalog.afi.com) --- Trivia: Some sequences doubling for Brazil were filmed at Savannah’s Greenwich/Greenwich Plantation grounds and in St. Augustine, reflecting the production’s use of prominent Southern locations. (catalog.afi.com) The original feature ran six reels; only the three‑reel 1922 reissue emphasizing Valentino is extant today. (catalog.afi.com) On surviving materials, Valentino’s first name appears as “Rudolf,” one of several early spellings he used. (catalog.afi.com) Contemporary reports in May 1920 noted that Marguerite Namara’s infant daughter, Peggy Bolton, appeared alongside her in the film. (catalog.afi.com) The film is in the public domain in the United States. (silentera.com) --- Hashtags: StolenMoments RudolphValentino MargueriteNamara SilentFilm ClassicCinema PublicDomain 1920s Romance Drama