Black Oxen

Black Oxen
Directed by Frank Lloyd
Produced by Frank Lloyd
Written by Frank Lloyd
Mary O'Hara
Based on Black Oxen 
by Gertrude Atherton
Starring Corinne Griffith
Conway Tearle
Clara Bow
Cinematography Norbert Brodine
Edited by Edward M. Roskam
Distributed by Associated First National Pictures
Release dates
  • December 29, 1923 (1923-12-29)
Running time
80 minutes
Country United States
Language Silent
English intertitles

Black Oxen is a 1923 American silent fantasy/romantic drama film starring Corinne Griffith, Conway Tearle and Clara Bow. Directed by Frank Lloyd, the film is based on the controversial and best-selling 1922 novel of the same name by Gertrude Atherton.[1]

Described as "subtle science fiction", the film takes its title from William Butler Yeats: "The years like great Black Oxen tread the world."[1] It was produced by Frank Lloyd Productions and distributed by First National Pictures. A special edition of Atherton's novel was released featuring stills from the film.

Plot

Lee Clavering (Tearle), a playwright in New York, falls in love with an Austrian countess, Madame Zatianny (Griffith). Janet Oglethorpe (Bow), an animated and precocious flapper, is also in love with Lee but he hasn't noticed yet. Unbeknownst to Lee, Madame Zatianny is actually 58 years old, and has retained her youth through a rejuvenating glandular treatment and X-ray surgery. Lee's plans to marry Madame Zatianny are thwarted when one of her former admirers reveals her embarrassing secret and, in the end, Lee discovers happiness with Janet.

Cast

Clara Bow as Janet Oglethorpe, the flapper in Black Oxen, holding a copy of Flaming Youth. With Kate Lester and Tom Ricketts

Preservation status

The George Eastman House retains a print of the film which is incomplete, comprising the first seven reels, but not the eighth. In 2010, it undertook restoration of the 35mm print, funded by The National Film Preservation Fund. The Gosfilmofond Russian State Archive also holds an incomplete copy, consisting of all reels with the exception of Reel 2. A DVD The New York Public Library has a 16mm print available in three film reels.[2] A 60-minute version mastered by eBay retailer Buyers’ Gallery Video is available on DVD. No complete version of the film is currently commercially available [3]

Black Oxen is one of about ten films starring Corinne Griffith, out of 58, that are available for viewing.[4]

DVD release

Black Oxen was released on Region 0 DVD-R by Alpha Video on September 1, 2015.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Woodward, Kathleen (1999). Figuring Age: Women, Bodies, Generations. Indiana University Press. p. 96. ISBN 0-253-11384-9.
  2. New York Public Library catalog
  3. http://www.silentera.com/video/blackOxenHV.html
  4. Tim, Lussier (2004). "Corrine Griffin: The Divine Lady". silentsaregolden.com. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  5. "Alpha Video - Clara Bow Double Feature: My Lady of Whims (1925) (Silent) / Black Oxen (1923) (Silent)". Retrieved 2015-08-24.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Black Oxen.
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