The Virgin of Stamboul
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Tod Browning
Priscilla Dean
Eugenie Forde
Wheeler Oakman
Wallace Beery
E. A. Warren
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Captain Pemberton, an American soldier of fortune in command of the Black Horse Troop, falls in love with Sari, the beautiful beggar girl of Constantinople. Daring to enter a mosque one day, Sari witnesses wealthy sheik Hamid Pasha stab a young American to death. In order to silence the girl, Hamid decides to make Sari a member of his harem. Upon discovering the plan, Pemberton bribes an emissary to substitute his name for that of the sheik and the ceremony is performed. Learning of the deception, Hamid kidnaps the couple, imprisoning them in his desert stronghold where Sari makes a daring escape and rides to inform the Black Horse Troop of their Captain's peril. The troopers arrive just as Pemberton and Hamid are engaged in hand to hand combat and Sari rushes to her husband's side as he delivers the fatal blow to the sheik.
Director
Tod Browning
Cast
Priscilla Dean
Eugenie Forde
Wheeler Oakman
Wallace Beery
E. A. Warren
Edward Burns
Nigel De Brullier
Ethel Ritchie
Clyde Benson
Yvette Mitchell
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Van Loan's story was originally titled Undraped. The title The Virgin of Stamboul was changed in mid-production to The Beautiful Beggar, then finally back to The Virgin of Stamboul. The film was lavishly produced, according to all accounts, and advertised as having cost $500,000. Filming began in August 1919 and continued for five months. It is unclear whether Van Loan's story was written for the screen or another medium. Several contemporary sources state that Agnes Parsons collaborated with Van Loan on the story. Production charts in contemporary trade journals, which usually credit Fildew as sole cinematographer, credit Fildew and "Myers" together during the first week of January 1920. The New York premiere of the film was on March 21, 1920 at Moss's Broadway Theatre. Modern sources credit Viola Mallory as the editor. Exteriors were shot in Oxnard, CA and in Arizona.
