Marceline Day

Directed by             John M. Stahl
Written by              Benjamin Glazer based on a French play called "Toto"
Starring                  Lew Cody, Marceline Day, Carmel Myers, Malcolm McGregor
Distributed by        Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date           19 September 1926
Running time        70 minutes
Country                  United States
Language                Silent, English intertitles

We have included this film in our program to illustrate the work and contributions of our star Marceline Day.

"The Gay Deceiver" is a classic drama and romance starring Marceline Day among other renowned silent film players.  Silent Era lists this film as "survival status: unknown".  It is not available for viewing, so we have to rely on newspaper articles from the 1920ies.  If you have any information about a surviving copy of the film please let us know.

Here are just a few of the reviews for this film:

Lew Cody plays around with hearts like so many toys and takes all his admirers with a grain of salt.  Cody's nonchalant attitude makes his playing particularly interesting.  John Stahl has provided a first rate production with attractive sets and a good cast contributing to the entertainment. 
 
Cast: Lew Cody, in the title role, is back in his original characterization.   He plays with hearts but finally comes back to his first love.  Marceline Day, cute as his daughter.  Dorothy Phillips, pleasing. (Film Daily)
 
Few motion pictures can present in its players such an array of brilliant and widely varied talent as there is among the principals of "The Gay Deceiver". Lew Cody, Carmel Myers, Marceline Day, Malcolm McGregor, Roy D'Arcy and Dorothy Phillips are the leaders of the cast. (Nambour Chronicle and North Coast Advertiser)
 
"The Gay Deceiver" is  powerful drama of Bohemian life.  A strong cast includes Mr. Lew Cody and Misses Marceline Day, Dorothy Phillips, and Carmel Myers. (The Advertiser)
 
"The Gay Deceiver" has an all-star cost including Lew Cody, Carmel Myers, Dorothy Phillips, Marceline Day, Roy D'Arcy and Malcolm  McGregor.  Transferred to the screen from a very successful stage play named "Toto", "The Gay Deceiver" offers splendid and intelligent entertainment.  Lew Cody heads the cast in the title role.  He gives a distinguished performance as a Parisian boulevardier.  Dorothy Phillips plays opposite Cody in the role of the wife who was tolerant enough to forgive the flirtations of her husband and begin all over again.  
 
The story has a background of Paris and France and there are particularly interesting scenes of back-stage theater life in the French capital, where 'Toto' is an idolized favorite.  "The Gay Deceiver" should not be missed by anyone interested In superior motion pictures. (Townsville Daily Bulletin)
 
There are two love stories in "The Gay Deceiver," one the reestablished romance of the estranged parents, and the other is of warm and vigorous youth, fighting its way through obstacles to a glamorous goal of destiny.  Both are finely done, by Cody and Miss Phillips as the adults and by Malcolm McGregor and Miss Day as the youngsters.  Stahl's masterful direction gives the situations of the story sincerity and conviction.
 
None of the charm has been lost by the transfer of the stage play to the screen.  Through the entire narrative there runs a delicate vein of whimsical humor in which particular field Lew Cody is singularly adept. (Werribee Shire Banner)
 
Lew Cody and Marceline Day will be seen in the leading roles in "The Gay Deceiver". (Barrier Miner)
 
Marceline Day has an important role in "The Gay Deceiver," the Metro Goldwyn Mayer picture from the famous stage success. A decisive factor in her selection for the role in "The Gay Deceiver" was her distinguished performance in "The Barrier". (Recorder)


Click to enlarge:

The Gay Deceiver

• Marceline-Day-in-a-beautiful-portrait-for-The-Gay-Deceiver-1926.jpg

  Marceline Day in a beautiful portrait for"The Gay Deceiver" (1926), which has an all-star cast including Lew Cody, Carmel Myers, Dorothy Phillips, Roy D'Arcy and Malcolm McGregor.
  
  

  http://silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/FilmStills/Marceline-Day/The-Gay-Deceiver/Marceline-Day-in-a-beautiful-portrait-for-The-Gay-Deceiver-1926.jpg

• Marceline-Day-and-Malcolm-McGregor-in-The-Gay-Deceiver-1926.JPG

  Marceline Day and Malcolm McGregor in"The Gay Deceiver" (1926).
  

  http://silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/FilmStills/Marceline-Day/The-Gay-Deceiver/Marceline-Day-and-Malcolm-McGregor-in-The-Gay-Deceiver-1926.JPG

• Lew-Cody-and-Marceline-Day-and-Carmel-Myers-and-Malcolm-Mc-Gregor-in-The-Gay-Deceiver-poster-1926-2.jpg

  "The Gay Deceiver" (1926) has an all-star cost including Lew Cody,Marceline Day,Carmel Myers, Dorothy Phillips,  Roy D'Arcy and Malcolm McGregor. Poster 1.

  http://silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/FilmStills/Marceline-Day/The-Gay-Deceiver/Lew-Cody-and-Marceline-Day-and-Carmel-Myers-and-Malcolm-Mc-Gregor-in-The-Gay-Deceiver-poster-1926-2.jpg

• Lew-Cody-and-Marceline-Day-in-The-Gay-Deceiver-1926.JPG

  Lew Cody and Marceline Day are father and daughter in"The Gay Deceiver" (1926).

  http://silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/FilmStills/Marceline-Day/The-Gay-Deceiver/Lew-Cody-and-Marceline-Day-in-The-Gay-Deceiver-1926.JPG

• Lew-Cody-and-Marceline-Day-and-Carmel-Myers-and-Malcolm-Mc-Gregor-in-The-Gay-Deceiver-poster-1926-3.jpg

  "The Gay Deceiver" (1926). Poster 2.
  

  http://silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/FilmStills/Marceline-Day/The-Gay-Deceiver/Lew-Cody-and-Marceline-Day-and-Carmel-Myers-and-Malcolm-Mc-Gregor-in-The-Gay-Deceiver-poster-1926-3.jpg

• Lew-Cody-and-Marceline-Day-and-Carmel-Myers-and-Malcolm-Mc-Gregor-in-The-Gay-Deceiver-poster-1926-4.jpg

  "The Gay Deceiver" (1926). Poster 3.

  http://silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/FilmStills/Marceline-Day/The-Gay-Deceiver/Lew-Cody-and-Marceline-Day-and-Carmel-Myers-and-Malcolm-Mc-Gregor-in-The-Gay-Deceiver-poster-1926-4.jpg

• Lew-Cody-and-Marceline-Day-and-Carmel-Myers-and-Malcolm-Mc-Gregor-in-The-Gay-Deceiver-poster-1926-5.jpg

  "The Gay Deceiver" (1926). Poster 4.

  http://silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/FilmStills/Marceline-Day/The-Gay-Deceiver/Lew-Cody-and-Marceline-Day-and-Carmel-Myers-and-Malcolm-Mc-Gregor-in-The-Gay-Deceiver-poster-1926-5.jpg

• Lew-Cody-and-Marceline-Day-and-Carmel-Myers-and-Malcolm-Mc-Gregor-in-The-Gay-Deceiver-poster-1926-6.jpg

  "The Gay Deceiver" (1926). Poster 5.

  http://silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/FilmStills/Marceline-Day/The-Gay-Deceiver/Lew-Cody-and-Marceline-Day-and-Carmel-Myers-and-Malcolm-Mc-Gregor-in-The-Gay-Deceiver-poster-1926-6.jpg

• Lew-Cody-and-Marceline-Day-and-Carmel-Myers-and-Malcolm-Mc-Gregor-in-The-Gay-Deceiver-poster-1926.jpg

  "The Gay Deceiver" (1926). Poster 6.

  http://silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/FilmStills/Marceline-Day/The-Gay-Deceiver/Lew-Cody-and-Marceline-Day-and-Carmel-Myers-and-Malcolm-Mc-Gregor-in-The-Gay-Deceiver-poster-1926.jpg

   Marceline Day and Malcolm McGregor