{{short description|1921 film}} {{distinguish|The Case of Becky (1915 film)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox film | name = The Case of Becky | image = The Case of Becky (1921) - 3.jpg | caption = Advertisement | director = Chester M. Franklin | producer = Realart Pictures | writer = J. Clarkson Miller | based_on = {{based on|''The Case of Becky''|Edward J. Locke and David Belasco}} | starring = Constance Binney<br>Montagu Love<br>Glenn Hunter | cinematography = George J. Folsey | editing = | distributor = Paramount Pictures | released = {{Film date|1921|10|9}} | runtime = 60 minutes;<ref name="workman">{{cite book|last1=Workman|first1=Christopher|last2=Howarth|first2=Troy|year=2016|title=Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era|publisher=Midnight Marquee Press|pages=232–233|ISBN=978-1936168-68-2}}</ref> 6 reels (1675.79 meters) | country = United States | language = Silent (English intertitles) }}
'''''The Case of Becky''''' is a lost<ref name=":0" /> 1921 American silent drama film based on a successful 1912 play written by David Belasco and Edward J. Locke, ''The Case of Becky''. Belasco also produced the play, which starred his muse, Frances Starr.
The film was produced by Realart Pictures, directed by Chester M. Franklin, written by J. Clarkson Miller and released through Paramount Pictures. George J. Folsey was the cinematographer.<ref name="workman"/><ref>[http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/C/CaseOfBecky1921.html Progressive Silent Film List: ''The Case of Becky''] at silentera.com</ref><ref>''The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1921-30'' by The American Film Institute, c. 1971</ref>
The play was filmed earlier (in 1915) in a version starring Blanche Sweet, which emphasized the horror elements.<ref name="workman"/>
Montagu Love went on to star in several other silent horror films, ''The Haunted House'' (1929) and ''The Cat Creeps'' (1930).
==Plot== Dorothy Stone is the step-daughter of barn-storming hypnotist Professor Balzamo, who has used her as his subject since childhood. During his hypnosis act, she becomes her evil alter ego named Becky. Her mother's deathbed warning leads Dorothy to leave the hypnotist and she finds shelter in a small town with Mrs. Arnold and her son John, who falls in love with her. When he gives her an engagement ring, the flashing stone induces a reversion to her evil personality. The famous psychologist Dr. Emerson diagnoses her case correctly and attempts a cure. The chance visit by the hypnotist results in a situation where Dorothy is permanently cured and learns that she is actually the daughter of the physician. After Balzamo commits suicide, there is a happy ending.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Reviews: ''The Case of Becky'' |journal=Exhibitors Herald |volume=13 |issue=16 |page=67 |publisher=Exhibitors Herald Company |location=New York City |date=October 15, 1921 |url=https://archive.org/details/exhibitorsherald13exhi_0}}</ref>
==Cast== *Constance Binney as Dorothy Stone *Glenn Hunter as John Arnold *Frank McCormack as Dr. Emerson *Montagu Love as Professor Balzamo *Margaret Seddon as Mrs. Emerson *Jane Jennings as Mrs. Arnold
==Preservation status== A copy is held at UCLA Film and Television Archive. This film was formerly thought to be lost.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date= |others= |title=The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Case Of Becky |url=http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.mbrs.sfdb.4181/default.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805123049/http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.mbrs.sfdb.4181/default.html |archive-date=2022-08-05 |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=memory.loc.gov}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|The Case of Becky}} *{{IMDb title|0012033}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20150924021233/http://www.geh.org/ar/strip64/htmlsrc2/m198701190046_ful.html#topofimage Lantern slide](Wayback Machine)
{{Chester Franklin}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Case of Becky, The}} Category:1921 films Category:1921 drama films Category:1921 American films Category:1921 English-language films Category:1920s rediscovered films Category:American black-and-white films Category:American films based on plays Category:American silent feature films Category:English-language drama films Category:Films directed by Chester Franklin Category:Paramount Pictures films Category:Rediscovered American films Category:Remakes of American films Category:American silent drama films Category:Surviving American silent films
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