Slave of Desire

Slave of Desire (originally titled The Magic Skin)[3] is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by George D. Baker, produced and distributed by Goldwyn Pictures.[4][5] It was based on the novel La Peau de chagrin[lower-alpha 1] by Honoré de Balzac, first published in 1831.[4] The Balzac novel had previously been filmed in 1909 as The Wild Ass's Skin, which was more faithful to the original novel.[6]

Slave of Desire
Lobby card
Directed byGeorge D. Baker
Written byAlice D. G. Miller (adaptation)
Charles W. Whittaker (scenario)
Based onLa Peau de chagrin
by Honoré de Balzac
Produced bySamuel Goldwyn
Gilbert E. Gable
StarringGeorge Walsh
Bessie Love
Carmel Myers
CinematographyJohn W. Boyle
Production
company
Distributed byGoldwyn Pictures
Release date
  • October 14, 1923 (1923-10-14) (U.S.)[1]
Running time
7 reels; 6,673 feet[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

The picture stars George Walsh, Bessie Love, and Carmel Myers. A print of the film is preserved in the collection of Cinémathèque Française.[7][8]

Plot

In Paris, when failed poet Raphael, Marquis de Valentin (Walsh) meets the glamorous Countess Fedora (Myers), who promotes Raphael as a poet. He falls in love with her, but she rejects him.

When he is about to commit suicide by jumping into the Seine, Raphael enters an antique shop where he gets a magic piece of leather that can grant wishes. As it grants wishes, the leather becomes smaller. Raphael selfishly uses the wishes for himself, but uses the final wish benevolently, which enables him to be reunited with his true love, Pauline (Love). Countess Fedora is buried under an avalanche.[2][4][9][10][11]

Cast

Reception

The film received mixed reviews, with many reviewers noted the fanciful plot and subject matter as a hindrance to the film's success.[2][12][13][14][15]

Carmel Myers's performance was especially highly praised,[4] as were the visuals, especially Myers's wardrobe.[4][10]

References
Notes
  1. The French title La Peau de Chagrin translates to The Skin of Sorrow, but the novel was retitled The Magic Skin for the English language editions.
Citations
  1. Motion Picture News Booking Guide. New York: Motion Picture News. April 1924. p. 62.
  2. Sewell, C.S. (December 15, 1923). "Slave of Desire". Moving Picture World. Vol. 65, no. 7. p. 632.
  3. "Goldwyn Changes Titles on Two Features". Motion Picture News. September 1, 1923.
  4. Elliott, Frank (October 27, 1923). "Pre-Release Reviews of Features". Motion Picture News. Vol. 28, no. 17. p. 2015.
  5. Love, Bessie (1977). From Hollywood with Love: An Autobiography of Bessie Love. London: Elm Tree Books. p. 87. OCLC 734075937.
  6. Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era. Midnight Marquee Press. p. 269. ISBN 978-1-936168-68-2.
  7. "Slave of Desire / George D Baker [motion picture]". Library of Congress – Performing Arts Encyclopedia. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  8. Bennett, Carl (July 23, 2006). "Progressive Silent Film List: Slave of Desire". Silent Era. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  9. "Reviews of the Newest Features". The Film Daily. Vol. 26, no. 64. December 16, 1923. p. 10.
  10. "Reviews". Exhibitors Herald. Vol. 17, no. 19. November 3, 1923. p. 59.
  11. Munden, Kenneth W., ed. (1971). The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States: Feature Films 1921–1930. New York: R.R. Bowker Company. p. 732. OCLC 664500075.
  12. "Newspaper Criticisms on New Films". The Film Daily. Vol. 26, no. 64. December 16, 1923. p. 4.
  13. "Picturegoer's Guide". Pictures and Picturegoer. Vol. 7, no. 39. March 1924. p. 62.
  14. "Exhibitors Service Bureau". Motion Picture News. Vol. 29, no. 3. January 19, 1924. p. 258.
  15. "The Check-Up". Motion Picture News. Vol. 29, no. 5. February 2, 1924. p. 495.
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