It (1927)

Director:

Clarence G. Badger
(more)

Writers:

Elinor Glyn (novel) (adaptation)
Hope Loring (writer) ...
(more)

Release Date:

15 February 1927 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

A salesgirl with plenty of "it" (sex appeal) pursues a handsome playboy.

Plot Keywords:

Department Store | Shopgirl | Materialism | Unmarried Mother | One Word Title

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Clara Bow	...	Betty Lou Spence
Antonio Moreno	...	Cyrus Waltham Jr.
William Austin	...	Monty Montgomery
Priscilla Bonner	...	Molly
Jacqueline Gadsden	...	Adela Van Norman
Julia Swayne Gordon	...	Mrs. Van Norman
Elinor Glyn	...	Herself (as Madame Elinor Glyn)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gary Cooper	...	Newspaper Reporter (uncredited)
Lloyd Corrigan	...	Yacht Cabin Boy (uncredited)
Eleanor Lawson	...	First Welfare Worker (uncredited)
Rose Tapley	...	Second Welfare Worker (uncredited)
Dorothy Tree	...	Waltham Employee (uncredited)

Directed by
Clarence G. Badger
Josef von Sternberg		(uncredited)

Writing credits
Elinor Glyn		(novel) (adaptation)
Hope Loring		(writer) and
Louis D. Lighton		(writer)
George Marion Jr.		(titles)
Frederica Sagor		uncredited

Produced by
Clarence G. Badger	....	producer (as Clarence Badger)
Elinor Glyn	....	producer
Jesse L. Lasky	....	executive producer
B.P. Schulberg	....	associate producer
Adolph Zukor	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
H. Kinley Martin

Film Editing by
E. Lloyd Sheldon

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Vernon Keays	....	assistant director

Camera and Electrical Department
Osmond Borradaile	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Cliff Shirpser	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Famous Players-Lasky Corporation
• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1927) (USA) (theatrical)
• Killiam Shows (1978) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Kino Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Critics' Choice Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Grapevine Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Kino Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Voyager Company, The (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)

Runtime:

72 min

Country:

USA

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Company:

Famous Players-Lasky Corporation

Trivia:

Though the film is billed as an adaptation of Elinor Glyn's novel "It," the two stories have nothing to do with each other except that both revolve around her concept of "It." In her preface to the novel, Glyn wrote, "This is not the story of the moving picture entitled 'It,' but a character study of the story which the people in the picture read and discuss."

Quotes:

Betty Lou Spence: So you're one of those Minute Men - the minute you meet a girl you think you can kiss her!

Movie Connections:

Featured in 100 Years at the Movies (1994) (TV)

Clara Has" It " In Spades!

Nothing earth shattering here, no high art, just pure entertainment! A bit like today's light romantic comedies, but a tad better in a lot of instances! The real star here is Clara Bow who could after all really act and wasn't just another pretty face, although she was that and more! It's not difficult to see why she became a popular personality with her vivacity, energy and contagious charm! The girl just exuded fun! As Antonio Moreno said in the movie, "She has plenty in reserve!" There are some cute lines in the movie, like when Monty says, " I feel so low I'd have to walk on stilts under a dachshund." William Austin is an entertaining secondary character.

The print I saw was in good shape and I enjoyed the high angle shots of the department store at the beginning of the movie with the camera panning down to the street, the amusement park scenes and the scenes on the yacht. Makes me want to see Clara in a serious drama too! Worth watching for Clara to see what It was all about! I don't think It has changed that much even in the present day!