Vintage original 8 x 10 in. US single-weight glossy photograph from the 1920s U.S. Mail-themed silent film drama, THE MAILMAN, released in 1923 by FBO and directed by Emory Johnson.
 
The image depicts an exterior night scene of US Postal Service worker Bob Morley (Ralph Lewis) wearing a rain coat as he holds a large bag of mail. It is in near-fine condition as shown.
 
*"The Mailman is a 1923 American silent melodrama directed by Emory Johnson. Johnson's mother, Emilie Johnson, wrote the story and screenplay. The film featured Ralph Lewis, Johnnie Walker, and Virginia True Boardman. The Mailman was the fourth film in Emory Johnson's eight-picture contract with FBO.
 
Emory Johnson was a former actor turned director when he directed this film. He had acted in 73 movies between 1913 and 1922 for the likes of Essanay, Universal, Pathé, and Goldwyn before FBO allowed him to direct his first film. Johnson was 29 years old when he directed this film. The Mailman was the fourth film in Emory Johnson's eight-picture contract with FBO. His three previous FBO films had all been financially successful – In the Name of the Law, The Third Alarm, and The West~Bound Limited. During his directorial career at FBO, he would gain monikers like the Master of Melodrama, King of Exploitation, Hero of the Working Class, and this melodrama could be added to all the classifications. Johnson would continue to thrive as an independent director because he made bankable movies. Emory Johnson directed 13 films, of which 11 were silent and 2 were Talkies.
 
According to the Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database, two reels of this film survive."
 
The U. S. Mail Service honors Bob Morley (Ralph Lewis) and his son Johnnie (Johnnie Walker) for their many years of service. Afterward, Johnnie is promoted to an officer on the U. S. Mail Service ship — Enterprise. The craft transports registered mail and other valuable cargo. While Johnnie is on duty, thieves rob the boat and gun down the supervisor. Through a series of unfortunate events, they charge Johnnie with theft and murder. Since he has no alibi, the court finds him guilty of both crimes. When the court is about to pass a sentence, the actual wrongdoer confesses and saves Johnnie from his date with the hangman's noose.The film was released on December 9, 1923, by FBO."
*(source: Wikipedia)