Run Time: 104 minutes. Studio: D.W. Griffith Productions. Director: D.W. Griffith. Writer: Forrest Halsey. Based on a play by Dorothy Donnelly. Producer: D.W. Griffith. Main Cast: Carol Dempster, W.C. Fields, Alfred Lunt, Erville Alderson. Cinematographers: Harry Fischbeck, Harold S. Sintzenich. Editor: James Smith. Art Director: Charles M. Kirk.
Two names you may not except to see on the same movie are D.W. Griffith and W.C. Feilds. D.W. Griffith is best known for such dramatic epics as Birth of a Nation (1915) and Intolerance (1916). However, most of his films are smaller intimate dramas. Those who have read or heard stories about Griffith's relationship with legendary comedy filmmaker Mack Sennett are aware that Griffith is not exactly known for his sense of humor or his understanding of film comedy. W.C. Feilds on the other hand is one of the most popular and beloved comedians of Hollywood's golden age. He would star in some of the most outrageous and wildest comedies of the 1930's and 40's. However, Griffith directed Feilds in two feature length silent movies, Sally of the Sawdust and That Royle Girl (1925). That Royle Girl is unfortunately a lost film, but Sally of the Sawdust is a delightful collaboration between two film giants.
In this film, Judge Foster (Erville Alderson) casts his daughter out of the family because she married a circus. Much later before the daughter's death, she leaves her own small daughter, Sally (Carol Dempster), with her juggler friend McGargle (W. C. Fields). McGargle gets a job at a carnival company playing at Great Medows, where the Fosters live. As she grows up Peyton (Alfred Lunt), a friend of Foster falls in love with Sally.
This is a great movie that deserves much more attention than it gets. What really makes this film work is how well it balances melodrama and comedy. The story itself is quite melodramatic, yet it does often work in some bits of Feilds-ian humor. Yet every bit of comedy here is perfectly worked into the story and plays a role in moving the story forward. There is never once simply comedy for the sake of comedy, and it never interrupts the flow of the more dramatic storyline. More than this, it is often times quite funny.
The storyline may be melodramatic, but it works quite well. The relationship between Sally and her adoptive father is quite touching. This makes us care deeply about what happens to these characters. Because of this no matter how melodramatic the store gets; it feels real to us and can even tug on our heartstrings.
Professor McGargle is a perfect role for W.C. Fields. This type of lovable conman is the kind of character that Feilds would play later in his career. There is a Dickensian quality to this character with his unsophisticated and unpretentious charm along with his loving heart. It is hard not to love this character, yet at the same time, the character perfectly allows for the type of comedy Feilds is best known for. Feilds is not the only standout from the cast though. Carol Dempster is fantastic here. She is simply magnetic, especially when she shares a performing stage with her adoptive father.
The climax is a perfect mixture of Griffith and Feilds' styles. It is in many ways a typical Griffith chase to the rescue climax with all the suspense and excitement that one might expect. At the same time some great bits of slapstick humor are worked into it. Both the suspense and the comedy work together perfectly.
When making this film, Griffith was going through a change of pace with his career. Who had once been one of the most prestigious film directors had now found himself working as a contract director. On Tuesday June 10, 1924, Griffith (due to financial difficulties) began a contract with Famous Players-Lasky (the producing arm of Paramount Pictures). This contract required Griffith to make three films for the studio, while the studio would give a $250,000 loan for Griffith's company.
On the other hand, W. C. Feild's career was on the upswing. On Monday, September 3, 1923, Dorthy Donnelly's musical comedy play, Poppy premiered on Broadway. It opened at the Apollo Theatre with Madge Kennedy as Poppy and W.C. Feilds as McGargle. Also in the cast was Robert Woosley, later of the comedy team Wheeler and Woosley. The play was a massive hit providing Feilds with the biggest hit of his career at the time. The play would have a very long run with Feilds as the main character.
In early 1925, Famous Players-Lasky brought the screen rights for Poppy for $15,000. The studio soon decided to make the film version of the popular play, one of the three that Griffith would make for the studio. Griffith would later claim that this was the only of the three films he made for the studio (the others being That Royle Girl and The Sorrows of Satan (1926)), that he actually wanted to make.
The film began shooting on Monday March 9. That morning was spent with lighting test and rehearsals and that after the prologue with Poppy's mother being turned out of her home for marrying a circus man were shot. On Tuesday March 10, these scenes were finished and a scene in a bedroom set involving actress Elfie Shannon were filmed. On Wednesday March 11, Feilds films his first scene, where his character adopts Sally, was filmed in the morning. The scene was wrapped up in time for Feilds to appear in a matinee performance of the Ziegfield Follies at the New Amsterdam Theatre. That night a giant circus tent is put up. On Thursday March 12, crowd scenes were shot around that circus tent. 200 extras were signed for that day. On Friday March 13 scenes involving a lion tamer, Carol Dempster (on her first day of shooting) and Feilds performing his famous juggling act (for the first time in front of a camera). Saturday March 14 including shooting close-ups of Carol Dempster and her act with Feilds (again Feilds' scenes needed to be shot early enough that he could appear on stage the same day), close-ups of Glenn Anders (the acrobat) and the scenes with Carol Dempster and the elephant. On Sunday March 15 W.C. Feilds shot a fight scene and his shell game (another famous Feilds sketch). On Monday March 16 and Tuesday March 17, scenes were shot in Carol Dempster's tent. On Wednesday March 18, Thursday March 19 and Friday March 20, the bootleggers scene was shot. On Saturday March 21 and Sunday March 22 the bakery scenes were shot. On Monday March 23 scenes in the judge's home were shot. On Wednesday March 25 and Thursday March 26 the ball scenes were shot. From Friday March 27 to Sunday March 29 scenes were shot in the Foster home. From Monday March 30 through Thursday April 9, carnival scenes were shot. From Friday April 10 to Monday April 13 the courtroom scenes were shot. Tuesday April 14 through Friday April 17 retakes and location shots were filmed.
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| Exhibitor's Trade Review, 1925 |
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| Exhibitors Hearld, 1925 |
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| Moving Picture World, 1925 |
A review in The Moving Picture World stated, "In a word, Mr. Griffith has produced in 'Sally of the Sawdust' a picture that is filled with sure-fire stuff that will thoroughly entertain the majority. It has an abundance of rattling good comedy, pathos, drama, sympathy and suspense and should prove a big box office attraction."
The following review comes from an issue of The Moving Picture World dated June 27, 1925.
"Through the kindness of one of our dependable scouts, we are privileged to hand you a tip that will silence somewhat, the cry that our tips are not up to date enough. Needn't say anymore just read it!
"'Dear Van,
"'Just finished preview showing of D.W. Griffith's newest production of 'Sally of the Sawdust'; despite terrific heat, we played to capacity, which alone is great tribute to Mr. Griffith and his splendid production.
"'The featured roles are played by Carol Dempster and W.C. Feilds, the Ziegfield Follies comic.
"'In other reports I have claimed Miss Dempster as a comer; in 'Sally of the Sawdust' I claim she has arrived. Her portrayal as Sally will go down in screen history as one of the finest bits of acting ever done upon the screen. In W.C. Feilds, Mr. Griffith has brought to the screen a new star, who, in the role of McGargle is a 'wow.' The juvenile lead is played by Arthur Lunt; other fine character bits were played by Glen Anders, Elfie Shannon and Ervillie Alderson.
"'In this production Mr. Griffith has placed some of the most delightful scenes ever shown upon the screen. The scenes get hold of the audience, and it cries and laughs just as Mr. Griffith has willed. [Spoiler Alert] When the girl is reunited with her grandmother one reaches for a handkerchief with the same rapidity as in the old days of 'East Lynn.' [End Spoiler Alert] When Feilds as McGargle begins his idiosyncrasies, roars of laughter greet his antics, and when [Spoiler Alert] he walks off lonesome at the end, you feel a cheerful friend has gone out of your life. [End Spoiler Alert]
"'I predict 'Sally of the Sawdust' will be one of the coming season's outstanding hits.' - Al Hamiliton, Rialto Theatre, So. Norwalk, Connecticut."
If you are interested in watching this great movie, you can watch a YouTube version below.
Resources Used
Kaufman at the Movies: Articles & Essays 1987–2021, Volume 2 by J.B. Kaufman
https://mediahistoryproject.org/
https://www.imdb.com/
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