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Name Occurs Before Title Offscreen Credit Print Viewed By AFI Stub Record
Tol'able David
Director: Henry King (Dir)
Release Date:   21 Nov 1921
Duration (in feet):   7,118
Duration (in reels):   7
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Cast:   Richard Barthelmess (David Kinemon)  
    Gladys Hulette (Esther Hatburn)  
    Walter P. Lewis (Iscah Hatburn)  
    Ernest Torrence (Luke Hatburn)  
    Ralph Yearsley (Luke's brother)  
    Forrest Robinson (Grandpa Hatburn)  
    Laurence Eddinger (Senator Gault)  
    Edmund Gurney (David's father)  
    Warner Richmond (David's brother, Allen)  
    Marion Abbott (David's mother)  
    Henry Hallam (The doctor)  
    Patterson Dial (Rose, Allen's wife)  
    Lassie (The dog)  
Summary: Allen Kinemon, driver of the stagecoach carrying the U. S. mail in the Virginia mountains, is the hero of his young romantic brother, David, who dreams of emulating him. Into their quiet community come the three Hatburns, fugitives from justice, who impose themselves upon the unwilling hospitality of Esther Hatburn's grandfather. When Allen sees the Hatburns attack his brother's dog, he warns them that he will avenge it, and Iscah Hatburn strikes him with a large rock that cripples him for life. David's father suffers a fatal stroke, and the boy is forced to accept the duties of heading the household; because of his mother's fear, he foregoes revenge for his brother and is branded a coward by the villagers. Forced by circumstances to deliver the mail, David encounters Hatburn, whom he engages in an unequal fight, but David proves to be a worthy successor to his brother and wins the heart of Esther. 
Production Company: Inspiration Pictures  
Distribution Company: Associated First National Pictures  
Director: Henry King (Dir)
Producer: Charles H. Duell (Pres)
Writer: Edmund Goulding (Scen)
  Henry King (Scen)
Photography: Henry Cronjager (Dir of photog)
Film Editor: Duncan Mansfield (Film ed)
Country: United States
Language: English
Source Text: Based on the short story "Tol'able David" by Joseph Hergesheimer in his The Happy Life (New York, 1919).
Authors: Joseph Hergesheimer
Copyright Claimant Copyright Date Copyright Number
Inspiration Pictures 14/12/1921 dd/mm/yyyy LP17357
Physical Properties: b&w:
  Si:
 
Genre: Drama
Sub-Genre: Rural
 
Subjects (Major): Brothers
  Handicapped
  Dogs
  Feuds
  Fugitives
  Mountain life
  Postal service
  Revenge
  West Virginia
Note: The original adaptation was begun by D. W. Griffith and was partially used in the final scenario. Copyright records show Ralph Yearsley, an Australian actor, as Ralph Bausfield. Columbia Pictures released a sound adaptation of Tol'able David in 1930, directed by John G. Blystone and starring Richard Cromwell and Noah Beery (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1921-30 ). 
Bibliographic Sources:   Date   Page
Film Daily   20 Nov 1921   p. 2.
MPW   5 Dec 1921   p. 589.
New York Times   2 Jan 1922   p. 20.
Variety   6 Jan 1922   p. 42.
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