The Breathless Moment

1924 film directed by Robert F. Hill

Harvey Gates
Raymond L. Schrock
William E. Wing

Based onRichard
by Marguerite BryantProduced byCarl LaemmleStarring

William Desmond
Charlotte Merriam
Alfred Fisher

CinematographyWilliam Thornley

Production
company

Universal Pictures

Distributed byUniversal Pictures

Release date

February 3, 1924 (1924-02-03)

Running time

1 hourCountryUnited StatesLanguageSilent (English intertitles)

The Breathless Moment is a 1924 American silent comedy drama film directed by Robert F. Hill and starring William Desmond, Charlotte Merriam, and Alfred Fisher.^[1]^[2]

Plot

As described in a film magazine review,^[3] Billy Carson and Dan Cassidy, pals and crooks, are contrasting types, with Carson a cheerful individual who loves a joke and turns a sunny gaze upon the world, while his partner Cassidy a pronounced pessimist with an ingrowing grouch against everyone and everything with the exception of his pal. They visit the home of a millionaire while he is in Europe and, when Detective Quinn arrives at the mansion, Carson poses as the millionaire as he removes a number of priceless paintings. Quinn is put on their trail. After a variety of complications, by chance it happens that Carson saves the wife of Quinn and is slightly injured in the process. Quinn, feeling an obligation towards the criminal, offers Carson the alternatives of settling down and living quietly in a small village or going to jail. Carson and his pal go to a village, and the former falls in love when he discovers the fascinations of a young woman of the village, going straight and finding happiness.

Cast

William Desmond as Billy Carson
Charlotte Merriam as June Smart
Alfred Fisher as David Smart
Robert Homans as Detective Quinn
Lucille Hutton as Mildred Day
John Steppling as Banker Day
Margaret Cullington as Evangeline Clementine Jones
Harry von Meter as Tricks Kennedy
Al Hart as Dan Cassidy

References

^ Darby p. 616
^ Progressive Silent Film List: The Breathless Moment at silentera.com
^ Pardy, George T. (February 16, 1924). "Box Office Reviews: The Breathless Moment". Exhibitors Trade Review. 15 (13). New York: Exhibitors Review Publishing Corporation: 30. Retrieved September 7, 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.