The slides were utilized to advertise upcoming feature presentations.
Actual slide measures 4" x 3.25".
New York opening 29 January 1923
Produced by Vitagraph Co. of America
Screenwriter: Bradley J. Smollen
Director of Photography: Steve Smith, Jr.
Based on the magazine story "The Arab" by D.D. Calhoun (publication undetermined).
Plot: Diantha Ebberly (Alice Calhoun) travels with her parents to the edge of the Saharan desert to meet her bethrothed, Herbert Medford (Herbert Heyes), whom she has not seen for two years. But before they can reunite, she is victimized by aggressive beggars while shopping in a market place. Fortunately, a mysterious but handsome Arab stranger rescues her. She inevitably falls madly in love with him, and sneaks out the next night in native dress to meet him so they can enjoy "one stolen night" together. Before she can return to her parents for the planned meeting with her fiance, the couple is attacked by the evil Sheik Amud (Oliver Hardy), and Diantha is kidnapped. Once again, her mystery lover rescues her, and then reveals that he is actually her betrothed.
Cast: The film also featured Otto Hoffman as Horace Ebberly, Adele Farrington as Mrs. Ebberly and Russell Powell.
Notes:
This movie was recently cited as an example of the degradation of Middle Easterners in early mainstream cinema in the book Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People by Jack G. Shaheen (Interlink Publishing Group, 2001).
"One Stolen Night" was one of dozens of desert romances that were made in the wake of Rudolph Valentino's "The Sheik".
This film was remade by Warner Brothers under the same title in 1929.
Sources:
Variety 1 February 1923
Moving Picture World 10 February 1923
Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
(c) Vitagraph Co. of America 1/18/23 LP 18597
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