The Top of New York (1922) *

The Top of New York (1922) | www.vintoz.com

May 15, 2023

 

The Top of New York

  • Paramount Photoplay in Five Parts.
  • Author, Sonya Levien.
  • Scenario by George Hopkins.
  • Director, William D. Taylor.
  • Cameraman, James Van Trees.
  • Running Time, Sixty Minutes.

CAST AND SYNOPSIS

  • Hilda O'Shaunnessey, May McAvoy;
  • Emery Gray, Walter McGrail;
  • Micky O'Shaunnessey, Pat Moore;
  • Gregory Stearns, Edward Cecil;
  • Mr. Isaacson, Charles Bennett;
  • Susan Gray, Mary Jane Irving;
  • Mrs. Brady, Carrie Ward;
  • Mr. Brady, Arthur Hoyt.

Hilda O'Shaunnessey works in the Toy department of the Bon Ton store and also plays the part of an animated doll in a big Christmas display. She is anxious to save money enough to send Micky, her crippled little brother, where he will receive medical care. Micky spends most of his time on the roof of his tenement home. Across the way, in a roof bungalow, lives a young artist, Emery Gray, a widower, with his little girl, Susan. The boss of the Bon Ton makes advances to Hilda and asks her what she wants for a Christmas present. She tells him she would like a fur coat. She gets the coat, which she pawns for five hundred dollars and promises to meet Stearns, the boss, next night in front of the house. On Christmas Eve Hilda dances for Micky in her doll costume and he is sent to the hospital. She goes to the roof, intending to leap to her death, so that Stearns will find her in front, as she promised. But Emery appears and saves her. Stearns, impatient, comes to the roof. Emery recognizes him as the man who wrecked his home and thrashes him. Hilda becomes little Susan's new mother.

There is nothing extra-ordinarily original about the plot of this picture, which offers the "poor but honest and beautiful working girl pursued by a wealthy chap with evil intentions" for its heroine, a type with which movie fans are extremely familiar. But the subject matter is so well handled by the director, the late William D. Taylor, and cleverly acted by a capable cast of players, that there is no hitch in the action and one's interest in the fortunes and misfortunes of pretty Hilda O'Shaunnessey doesn't peter out before her final triumph over adverse fate and snaring of a perfectly good husband. The Top of New York is likely to win favor with that large class of film patrons who are keen on sentiment served up in generous measure, with villainy defeated and virtue properly victorious.

Points of Appeal. — A telling contrast is achieved by the introduction of Hilda in her doll dancing costume, with the drab surroundings of her slum home for a drab background. The heroine gains plenty of sympathy in her brave struggle against poverty and the desperate measure she adopts in order to obtain funds to provide for her little crippled brother, and the cheerful climax which follows the thrashing of the "bad man" in the case by her lover gives universal satisfaction.

Cast. — There is no fault to be found with May McAvoy's work in the leading role, her "Hilda" is a charming little person and pleasingly natural. But just why her fascinating brunette beauty should be disfigured by the wearing of a blonde wig is a screen problem difficult of solution. Walter McGrail plays the part of the artist lover, giving a well-balanced, appealing performance; Edward Cecil furnishes an impressive character sketch of the would-be seducer, Stearns; little Pat Moore, is a pathetic figure as the cripple, Micky, and the support is adequate.

Photography, Lighting, Direction. — The camera work throughout is of the best quality, the roof and tenement views are realistic and good lighting prevails. The action moves swiftly and the continuity is unbroken.

Collection: Exhibitors Trade Review, July 1922

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May McAvoy | Walter McGrail | Pat Moore | Edward Cecil | Charles Bennett | Mary Jane Irving | Carrie Clark Ward | Arthur Hoyt | William Desmond Taylor

Rest of cast:

Sonya Levien (Story) | Jesse L. Lasky (Producer)