Vintage original 11 x 14 in. US lobby card from the silent film crime drama, THE TOWER OF JEWELS, released in 1919 by the Vitagraph Company of America and directed by Tom Terriss.
The image depicts star Corinne Griffith dressed in men's clothing as she turns the dial on a safe inside the home of wealthy David Parrish (Henry Stephenson) while her cohorts assist her. The caption in the lower right portion of the image reads: "Emily attempts to secure 'The Tower of Jewels'." It is unrestored in very good condition with light areas of waviness across the card.
*"The Tower of Jewels is a 1919 American silent crime film directed by Tom Terriss and starring Corinne Griffith, Maurice Costello and Estelle Taylor."
*(source: Wikipedia)
*"The upcoming production was announced in the 27 September 1919 Motion Picture News as the next starring vehicle for actress Corinne Griffith. One week later, the 4 October 1919 Moving Picture World reported that location shooting was underway in Bay Shore, Long Island, NY. Although Griffith’s leading man was Webster Campbell, that day’s issue of Motion Picture News credited Henry Stephenson, who played the character’s father. The original story by Lucien Hubbard was said to have been written especially for Griffith.
The Tower of Jewels was released in November 1919, according to a review in the 6 December 1919 Exhibitors Herald, while the 29 November 1919 Motion Picture News claimed that it was to be released the following month. The review referred to Campbell and Stephenson’s characters as “Wayne Barton” and “David Barton,” respectively, while in other sources they had the surname, “Parrish.” Four years earlier, the 15 October 1915 Variety mentioned a structure known as “The Tower of Jewels,” designed for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, CA.
Emily Cottrell, one of the most respected members of Fraser Grimstead’s criminal gang, is discovered by wealthy David Parrish while she attempts to rob his home. David offers Emily a chance to reform as a member of his household. However, Fraser insists that she steal the famous diamond collar, the Tower of Jewels, which is in David's possession. When Emily refuses, Fraser threatens to expose her past to Wayne Parrish, her benefactor's son with whom she is in love. Fraser and the gang surround the Parrish home, and David’s ward removes the jewel case to throw suspicion on Emily, whom she considers a rival. Emily's innocence is ultimately established, and her reputation is further cleared by Fraser, who, while dying of a gunshot wound, reveals that Emily was born to a wealthy family, making her Wayne’s social equal."
*(source: AFI Catalog of Feature Films)
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