The Caveman (1926)
Milestone delivered his second Prevost comedy The Caveman efficiently, earning praise for its adroit direction.
Darryl Zanuck script is taken from the play “The Cave Man” by Gelett Burgess.
The tale stars Matt Moore, Marie Prevost, and Hedda Hopper. The young Myrna Loy, who was just starting, played a small tole.
Vitagraph, a predecessor of Warner, produced a version of this story in 1915 with Robert Edeson.
Myra Gaylord, a rich orphan, is seeking adventure. She throws one half of a $100 bill out of a window, offering the other half if a person finding it comes to her apartment.
Coal heaver Mike Smagg finds that half bill with a note attached promising the other half. When he arrives with one half, Myra decides to groom him and introduce him into society.
His caveman methods attract the women. He balks at obeying Myra, who tells him that society will ostracize him if his background and identity are known.
He discovers that it is true, and is forced to forego his top hat and suit and don the clothes of coal heaver.
Eventually, after going back to his old haunts, he returns, kidnaps Myra, and rushes on coal wagon to be married.
During production, Milestone broke his contract with the studio over his exploitation as a “film doctor.” Warners sued for damages and won, forcing Milestone to file for bankruptcy.
The Caveman would be his last film for Warners until Edge of Darkness in 1943.
Milestone was then quickly signed by Paramount Pictures.
Cast
Matt Moore as Mike Smagg
Marie Prevost as Myra Gaylord
John Patrick as Brewster Bradford
Myrna Loy as Maid
Phyllis Haver as Dolly Van Dream
Hedda Hopper as Mrs. Van Dream
Virginia Fox as Party girl (uncredited)
