Sweet Kitty Bellairs is a 1916 American silent romantic comedy film based on the 1903 play Sweet Kitty Bellairs by David Belasco. Belasco's play was based on the 1900 novel The Bath Comedy, by Agnes and Egerton Castle, which also served as source material for the 1916 silent film. Belasco's play was a huge Broadway success for lead actress Henrietta Crosman. The film version stars Mae Murray and was directed by James Young.
Contents
Cast
Mae Murray as Kitty Bellairs
Tom Forman as Lord Verney
Belle Bennett as Lady Julia
Lucille Young as Lady Barbara Flyte
Joseph King as Sir Jasper
James Neill as Colonel Villers
Lucille Lavarney as Lady Maria
Horace B. Carpenter as Captain Spicer
Robert Gray as Captain O'Hara
Loretta Young (uncredited)
Production
Filming began in March 1916, at the Lasky studio in Los Angeles, concurrently with a $150,000 expansion to the studio. A replica of the casino at Bath was constructed for a ballroom scene, and two hundred extras were clothed in costumes by Alfreda Hoffman.
Reception
Motion Picture News reviewer Harvey F. Thew gave the film a positive review, describing the film as having "an undoubted charm" and being "especially well-cast."
Motography reviewer Thomas C. Kennedy called the film "very delightful screen entertainment" and praised Mae Murray for rising "to the heights of a real picture star." He also praised the film for its cinematography and the costumes.
Preservation
With no holdings located in archives, Sweet Kitty Bellairs is considered a lost film.
Other adaptations
Sweet Kitty Bellairs was remade again in 1930 as a sound musical comedy filmed in Technicolor.