"A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919) - hidden gem
Robert Harron
Directed by D. W. Griffith
Produced by D. W. Griffith
Scenario by Captain Victor Marier (D.W. Griffith)
Based on a screen story by Mary Castelman
Starring Lillian Gish, Robert Harron, George Fawcett, Kate Bruce
Cinematography Billy Bitzer
Editing by James Smith
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date January 26, 1919
Running time 77 min
Country United States
Language Silent film, English intertitles
This film is part of our series 'Hidden Gems'. It can be watched by registered users who make a donation. For more details, please click here.
"A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919) is a drama, included in our program to illustrate the work of two of our stars: actor Robert Harron and cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
John (Robert Harron) is a country boy working on his father's corn fields. One day John meets a New York man, whose stories about wealth stir his imagination and he decides to leave for the big city in search of luck and fortune. On his way John has to overcome the resistance of his parents, who want him to stay and work on the farm, and that of Jennie (Lillian Gish), the neighborhood girl who wants him around.
His mother goes to great lengths to stop him from leaving: she asks the priest to deliver a sermon against temptation. John is recognized as the object of the sermon, he is humiliated and humbled, and promises to stay. Jennie tries everything to keep him from leaving as well, dressing in fashionable clothes and wearing beautiful hats. All these efforts fail, however, and John leaves in a hurry, only stopping to bid an emotional goodbye to Jennie, whom she promises to return in one year.
John's road to wealth is not covered with roses, however, and it takes him a lot of time and efforts to make his invention: a swimming frog toy. Eight years pass, and although Jennie rejects the advances of other suitors, for her the romance with John is a distant memory. John's parents are in trouble - they run the risk of losing their home for not being able to pay the mortgage.
One day John's father in his desperation follows a rich city man with the intention to take his money. Dramatic complications occur, as it turns out that on that exact day John returns home. John's father has trouble recognizing his son and at the same time the rich city man ends up in the immediate vicinity of their home chased by the cops.
In the end Jennie gets a surprise visit that revives the all-but-forgotten past.
The film enjoys a strong rating in IMDB.
Click to enlarge:
A Romance of Happy Valley
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Robert Harron lends an ear to a New York man in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron thinks about going to New York in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron tells his father about going to New York in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Lillian Gish checks the fashion trends in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Lillian Gish tells her father about the fashion trends in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron talks to Lillian Gish in the corn field in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron is told by Lillian Gish that New York has awful weather in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron and Lillian Gish touch hands in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Lillian Gish makes an attractive hat to keep Robert Harron from leaving in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Lillian Gish yawns during sermon in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron listens to his mother Kate Bruce in church in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron looks on after the congregation sang a hymn for him in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron tells Lillian Gish that he is not leaving in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron gets a kiss from Lillian Gish in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron makes peace with his father George Fawcett by promising to stay in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron is caught by George Fawcett as he tries to sneak out in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron tells Lillian Gish that he is leaving in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron tells Lillian Gish that he will be away one year in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron and Lillian Gish say goodbye in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Lillian Gish waits for Robert Harron to return after 365 days in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Lillian Gish realizes that Robert Harron is not coming back in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Lillian Gish gets attention from another man in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron labors to make his toy frog swim in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Lillian Gish's romance with Robert Harron is a distant memory in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
George-Fawcett-in-A-Romance-of-Happy-Valley-1919-director-DW-Griffith-cinematographer-Billy-Bitzer-30.jpg
George Fawcett gets nothing after asking an old friend for money in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron returns home in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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George Fawcett wants to steal a rich man's money in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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George Fawcett carries a body out of his home in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron meets his mother Kate Bruce upon his return in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron talks to a cop as George Fawcett looks on in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron surprises Lillian Gish after 8 years in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron is happy to be with Lillian Gish again in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron is still loved by Lillian Gish after 8 years in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
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Robert Harron and Lillian Gish kiss again after 8 years in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
Lillian Gish and Robert Harron
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