THE LITTLE KNIGHT

Year Published: 1923

Format: 16mm

Description: This silent, tinted film "The Little Knight" is one of the episodes of a planned series of twelve, two-reel pictures entitled "The Strange Adventures of Prince Courageous" aka "The Adventures of Prince Courageous." Only three of the twelve films ended up being produced: "The Little Knight", "The Love Charm" (aka "The Little Defender") and "The Crown of Courage". All were produced in 1923 and star Bessie Love and five-year-old Arthur Trimble, and were directed Frederick G. Becker. The films re-used sets and costumes from Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood (1922). In "The Little Knight", a knight named Prince Courageous (William Butts) kills the giant son of witch Bwump, and the witch (Roy Coulson) retaliates by turning the knight into a little boy (Trimble). One day, King Lagg ("Boots" Fabing) encounters the little knight in the forest, and invites him back to his castle, where the knight falls in love with the king's daughter Beatrice (Doreen Turner), who is to marry Duke Craven (Monte Collins). The little knight saves princess from abduction, and the witch's spell is broken by the king's magicians. This version of "The Little Knight" was released by Cine-Art Productions of Hollywood, and sold through magazine ads in 1927 for $30 a print. The ad text stated "A wonderful story in glorious settings of old world splendor." Bessie Love (born Juanita Horton; September 10, 1898 – April 26, 1986) was an American-British actress who achieved prominence playing innocent, young girls and wholesome leading ladies in silent and early sound films. Her acting career spanned nearly seven decades—from silent film to sound film, including theatre, radio, and television—and her performance in The Broadway Melody (1929) earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Complete Record: This silent, tinted film "The Little Knight" is one of the episodes of a planned series of twelve, two-reel pictures entitled "The Strange Adventures of Prince Courageous" aka "The Adventures of Prince Courageous." Only three of the twelve films ended up being produced: "The Little Knight", "The Love Charm" (aka "The Little Defender") and "The Crown of Courage". All were produced in 1923 and star Bessie Love and five-year-old Arthur Trimble, and were directed Frederick G. Becker. The films re-used sets and costumes from Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood (1922). In "The Little Knight", a knight named Prince Courageous (William Butts) kills the giant son of witch Bwump, and the witch (Roy Coulson) retaliates by turning the knight into a little boy (Trimble). One day, King Lagg ("Boots" Fabing) encounters the little knight in the forest, and invites him back to his castle, where the knight falls in love with the king's daughter Beatrice (Doreen Turner), who is to marry Duke Craven (Monte Collins). The little knight saves princess from abduction, and the witch's spell is broken by the king's magicians. This version of "The Little Knight" was released by Cine-Art Productions of Hollywood, and sold through magazine ads in 1927 for $30 a print. The ad text stated "A wonderful story in glorious settings of old world splendor." Bessie Love (born Juanita Horton; September 10, 1898 – April 26, 1986) was an American-British actress who achieved prominence playing innocent, young girls and wholesome leading ladies in silent and early sound films. Her acting career spanned nearly seven decades—from silent film to sound film, including theatre, radio, and television—and her performance in The Broadway Melody (1929) earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.