Jack Spurlock, Prodigal
Cast & Crew
Carl Harbaugh
George Walsh
Dan Mason
Ruth Taylor
Robert Vivian
Mike Donlin
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Jack Spurlock's college escapades, which include a particularly raucous incident involving a bear, finally get him expelled, and his father, John Spurlock, Sr., compels him to go to work in the family's wholesale grocery business. The eager young man inexplicably purchases a huge surplus of onions and then supports the onion workers when they go on strike. After Spurlock, Sr. finally agrees to recognize the Onion Workers' Union, he fires his son and cuts off his allowance. Jack is forced to work as a waiter until his sweetheart, Anita Grey, introduces him to Professor Jackson, who has patented a health tonic made chiefly from onions. The publicity attending the Onion Workers' strike results in a huge demand for Jackson's tonic. In order to produce more of the cure-all, Jack purchases his father's onion surplus, thus redeeming his place in Spurlock, Sr.'s good graces.
Director
Carl Harbaugh
Cast
George Walsh
Dan Mason
Ruth Taylor
Robert Vivian
Mike Donlin
Jack Goodman
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The book was published in serial form in The Saturday Evening Post, of which Lorimer was editor. This film was originally scheduled for release on January 27, 1918. Mike Donlin was a member of the New York Giants baseball team. Jack Goodman was a leading lightweight boxer. The working title of the film was In Onion There Is Strength. Lorimer's novel was the basis for the 1922 Fox film A Self-Made Man, starring William Russell and Renée Adorée and directed by Rowland V. Lee (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1921-30; F2.4900).
