The Honor System
Cast & Crew
Raoul A. Walsh
Milton Sills
Mrs. Cora Drew
James A. Marcus
Arthur Mackley
Miriam Cooper
Film Details
Synopsis
Convicted of murder for killing a man in self-defense, Joseph Stanton is sentenced to life imprisonment. By circumstances, Stanton is enabled to send a plea to the governor asking him to investigate the deplorable conditions in the prison, and the governor institutes legislation establishing the honor system in the prison and improving the living conditions. This does not please Senator Harrington, a crooked politician who refuses to pardon Stanton in spite of the recommendation of officials. Harrington agrees to give Stanton three days leave from prison, however, on the condition that if he fails to return on time, the honor system shall be abolished. Harrington schemes to kidnap Stanton and hold him until after the deadline, but Stanton escapes in time to save the system. The senator is then exposed and sent to jail, and Stanton - his innocence established - is free to marry the warden's daughter Edith.
Director
Raoul A. Walsh
Cast
Milton Sills
Mrs. Cora Drew
James A. Marcus
Arthur Mackley
Miriam Cooper
George Walsh
Charles Clary
Gladys Brockwell
Roy Rice
Pomeroy J. Cannon
Johnny Reese
Crew
Film Details
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The prison scenes in this film were shot at the Arizona State Prison. This picture was re-released by Fox in 1920. According to letters included in the copyright descriptions for this film, Emma del Pierson claimed that The Honor System was an infringement of her unpublished scenario entitled "Wizards Love" and planned to take legal action against William Fox. According to the story included in the copyright descriptions, many of the words attributed to the Governor in the story were actually from Governor George W. P. Hunt of Arizona. The film had its premiere in New York on February 6, 1917 at the Lyric theater. S. L. Rothapfel staged this production, which was divided into three acts, and arranged the incidental music. The 1918 MPSD lists Henry I. MacMahon as the film's press representative. Raoul Walsh, in his autobiography, relates that Governor Hunt sent a convict serving a life sentence to the premiere, who afterward escaped, heading for Canada. Walsh also mentions that John Twist, who later headed the story department at RKO, helped with the idea for the film.
