Romance (1920 film)

Romance is a 1920 American silent film directed by Chester Withey and released through United Artists. The film is based on the 1913 play Romance by Edward Sheldon and stars Doris Keane, the actress who created the role in the play. This was Miss Keanes only motion picture. D.W. Griffith allowed the use of his Mamaroneck Studios for the production. The nephew of Griffiths favorite cameraman, Billy Bitzer, was the cinematographer. The story was later remade as Romance in 1930, an early talking vehicle for Greta Garbo.

As described in a film publication, a youth Arthur Rankin in the prologue seeks advice from his grandfather Sydney, who then recalls a romance of his own youth which is then shown as a flashback. A priest Sydney is in love with an Italian opera singer Keane, and the drama involves the conflict between his efforts to rise above worldly things or to leave with her. The romance ends with a deep note of pathos.The movie was based on a hit play and was financed by fledgling United Artists. 150,000 was spent on the story and Doris Keanes salary. It went 100,000 over budget and recorded a loss of 80,000. ........

Source: Wikipedia