South of Suva

1922 film by Frank John Urson

South of Suva

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Directed by| Frank Urson
Written by| Fred Myton (scenario)
Story by| Ewart Adamson
Produced by| Adolph Zukor (for Realart)
Starring| Mary Miles Minter
Cinematography| Allen M. Davey
Distributed by| Paramount Pictures

Release date

* July 16, 1922 (1922-07-16)

Running time

| 5 reels; 4,639 feet
Country| United States
Language| Silent (English intertitles)

South of Suva is a 1922 American silent drama film starring Mary Miles Minter and directed by Frank Urson. It was adapted by Fred Myton from a story by Ewart Adamson.[1] As with many of Minter's features, it is thought to be a lost film.[2]

## Plot

[edit]

Mary Miles Minter in "South of Suva" (1922)

As described in various film magazine reviews,[3][4][5][6] Phyllis Latimer (Minter) is sailing to Suva in the Fiji Islands to join her husband Sydney (Long), whom she has not seen since their marriage three years previously. She is travelling with Pauline Leonard (Bryson), who is to meet with her ward John Webster (Bowers) on Suva, but Pauline instead chooses to accompany a man she has fallen in love with on board.

When Phyllis arrives at her husband's plantation, she finds that Sydney has degenerated into a brutal drunk and surrounded himself with native women. Phyllis gives him two weeks to reform himself, and when he fails to do so and she tries to leave, he attacks her. When Sydney is knocked unconscious by a falling canopy Phyllis flees, but she does not have the money to pay for her return passage.

Phyllis seeks refuge with John Webster, and uses her knowledge of Pauline from the voyage to successfully pose as his ward. A romance begins to develop between them, but when Webster is away, Sydney arrives at his house. He reveals Phyllis' true identity to Webster's assistant, and drags her back to his own plantation.

When Phyllis refuses to submit to her husband, Sydney hands her over to the natives to be a human sacrifice. Webster arrives just in time to save her, and in the ensuing conflict Sydney is killed. Once it has been made clear to him that she is not his ward, Phyllis and Webster are free to wed.

## Cast

[edit]

* Mary Miles Minter as Phyllis Latimer
* Winifred Bryson as Pauline Leonard
* Walter Long as Sydney Latimer
* John Bowers as John Webster
* Roy Atwell as Marmaduke Grubb
* Fred Kelsey as Karl Swartz
* Larry Steers as Alfred Bowman (credited as Lawrence Steers)
* Benny Ayers as Native (uncredited)
* Bhogwan Singh as Native (uncredited)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Stories are Chosen for Minter and Binney". Motion Picture News. 24 (13). New York City: Motion Picture News, Inc.: [1] September 17, 1921.
2. ^ The Library of Congress/FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: South of Suva
3. ^ "Reviews: South of Suva". The Film Daily. 20 (85). New York: Wid’s Film and Film Folks inc: 13. June 25, 1922.
4. ^ "Reviews of the Latest Features: South of Suva". Motion Picture News. 25 (27). New York City: Motion Picture News, Inc.: [2] June 24, 1922.
5. ^ "Newest Reviews and Comments: South of Suva". Moving Picture World. 57 (1). New York City: Chalmers Publishing Company: [3]. July 1, 1922.
6. ^ "Reviews: Mary Miles Minter in South of Suva". Exhibitors Herald. 14 (26). Chicago: Exhibitors Herald Co.: [4] June 24, 1922.

## See also

[edit]

* South Seas genre

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to South of Suva.

* South of Suva at IMDb
* Southseascinema.org (S-Z) page

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