Too Many Kisses | 1925 | Romantic Comedy

Title: Too Many Kisses by Paul Sloane | 1925 | Romantic Comedy Director: Paul Sloane Studio: Famous Players–Lasky Starring: Richard Dix, Frances Howard, William Powell, Harpo Marx, Frank Currier Based on: A Maker of Gestures by John Monk Saunders Release Date: March 21, 1925 Runtime: 60 minutes Format: Silent, black-and-white; 6 reels Country: United States Language: Silent Genres: Comedy, Romance, Silent --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Playboy Troubles and Father’s Ultimatum 00:12:00 Exiled to the Basque Country 00:22:30 Yvonne and Julio 00:34:00 Abduction in the Mountains 00:54:00 Festival Showdown and Resolution --- Summary: Richard Gaylord Jr., a carefree playboy, creates so many romantic entanglements that his exasperated father sends him to a remote Basque village, believing local customs will curb his flirtations. Instead, Richard quickly falls for Yvonne Hurja, drawing the ire of Julio, a stern Civil Guard officer who claims her affection. As rivalry turns to open conflict, Richard faces intimidation, abduction, and a final public confrontation. The film blends light romance and broad comedy with adventure elements, culminating in a test of Richard’s resolve and a reconciliation with his father. --- Background: Adapted from John Monk Saunders’s short story A Maker of Gestures, the film was produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Principal photography concluded at Paramount’s Astoria Studios in Long Island by late January 1925. Long considered lost, a surviving print was later restored; a modern restoration premiered on television in November 2020 with a new score by Bill Marx, Harpo Marx’s son. --- Trivia: This is the earliest surviving screen appearance of Harpo Marx and the only film in which he appears without his brothers; uniquely, he has a spoken line conveyed via intertitle. William Powell plays the antagonist Julio, reflecting his frequent silent-era villain roles before his later fame as debonair detective Nick Charles in The Thin Man series. Frances Howard soon left acting after marrying producer Samuel Goldwyn in April 1925. The story’s setting in the Basque region shapes key plot points, including the belief that local women accept suitors only from their own people. The film premiered in New York on March 1, 1925, ahead of its general release later that month. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: March 21, 1925 Original Studio / Distributor: Famous Players–Lasky / Paramount Pictures Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: TooManyKisses 1925 SilentFilm PublicDomain PaulSloane RichardDix FrancesHoward WilliamPowell HarpoMarx FamousPlayersLasky Paramount RomanticComedy Source page: https: //commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Too_Many_Kisses_(1925)_by_Paul_Sloane.webm Direct media URL: https: //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Too_Many_Kisses_%281925%29_by_Paul_Sloane.webm