The Love Flower
(1920) American
B&W : Seven reels
Directed by D.W. Griffith

Cast: Richard Barthelmess [Bruce Sanders], Carol Dempster [Stella Bevan], George MacQuarrie [Stella’s father], Anders Randolf [Matthew Crane], Florence Short [Mrs. Bevan], Crauford Kent [her visitor], Adolphe Lestina [Bevan’s old servant], William James [Crane’s assistant], Jack Manning

D.W. Griffith production; distributed by United Artists Corporation. / Produced by D.W. Griffith. Scenario by D.W. Griffith, from the short story “Black Beach” by Ralph Stock. Cinematography by G.W. Bitzer and Paul H. Allen. Theme song “Love Flower” written by B.G. DeSylva and I. Caesar (words) and Louis Silver (music). / © 14 August 1920 by D.W. Griffith [LP15502]. Premiered 22 August 1920 at the Mark Strand Theatre in New York, New York. Released 5 September 1920. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.37:1 format. / Working titles: Black Beach, The Gamest Girl and The Girl Who Dared. Some location photography was taken in the Bahamas. Originally planned as Griffith’s third production for them, First National Pictures announced the film’s release for 15 May 1920 but was held after Griffith had previewed the film on 2 April 1920 at the American Newspaper Publishers Association in New York, New York. Griffith purchased the film from First National for $400,000 and arranged for a United Artists release after Griffith shot additional scenes of Dempster diving.

Drama.

Synopsis: Synopsis available in AFI-F1 n. F1.2631.

Survival Status: Print exists.

Listing updated: 8 April 2009.

References: AFI-F1 n. F1.2631; Bardèche-History p. 202; Barry-Griffith pp. 29, 61, 62, 63, 74; Brownlow-Parade pp. 87, 335; Everson-American pp. 159, 171; Katchmer-Eighty pp. 17, 20; Kobal-Fifty p. 39 : ClasIm-224 p. 38 : Website-AFI.

Home video: DVD.