The Mailman is a 1923 American silent melodrama directed by Emory Johnson. FBO released the film in December 1923. The film's "All-Star" cast included Ralph Lewis, Johnnie Walker, and Virginia True Boardman. Emilie Johnson, Johnson's mother, wrote both the story and screenplay. was the fourth film in Johnson's eight-picture contract with FBO.
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.
Plot The film's opening scene starts with a ceremony. A celebration acknowledges Bob and Johnnie's years of devoted service as mail carriers. Bob is a proud father who has raised his son to value hard work and dedication to their job. It is also clear that they have earned the respect and admiration of their colleagues and the community.
The story takes a dramatic turn when Johnnie accepts a promotion to serve on a postal ship, the Enterprise. The vessel transports the Post Office's registered mail. Johnnie accepts the job and starts work immediately. A robbery occurs one night while he is working on the postal ship. A postal officer is shot during the heist, and Johnnie is the only witness. The criminals decide they must do away with Johnnie and throw him overboard. In a twist of fate, a yacht in the same area saves Johnnie from drowning. It is of little comfort when Johnnie discovers the boat is a rumrunner and is involved in the Enterprise's robbery.
The yacht's owners discover Johnnie had witnessed the robbery and murder. Before they can toss him back into the sea, Johnnie escapes to the ship's radio room and transmits an alert to the Pacific fleet. Johnnie shows his courage and dedication to justice, despite his impending danger. After identifying the yacht's location, the fleet commander mobilizes his forces to intercept the 90-foot boat. There is a subsequent pursuit and destruction of the bootlegging vessel by ten Pacific Fleet Dreadnoughts.
During the melee, Johnnie saves himself from the destruction. Once aboard the rescue ship, they arrest him for committing robbery and murder. His new ordeal starts, and he faces trial for killing a government postal officer during the robbery. Bob Morley frantically calls everyone he knows, begging for help to save his son. Despite Bob's pleas, the court found Johnnie guilty of murder and sentenced him to hang.
While awaiting his execution, the actual criminal confesses. Johnnie is exonerated, and father and son are reunited. The movie ends on a happy note.
Cast ActorRoleRalph LewisBob MorleyJohnnie WalkerJohnnieMartha SleeperBettyVirginia True BoardmanMrs. MorleyTaylor GravesHarryHardee KirklandCaptain FranzDavid KirbyJack MorganJosephine AdairVirginiaRosemary CooperMrs. ThompsonRichard MorrisAdmiral Fleming
Production
Film Booking Offices of America (FBO) was an energetic, independent American silent era film studio. The company released around 110 features and shorts a year. The company focused on producing low-budget films emphasizing first-class westerns, action films, romantic melodramas, and comedy shorts. The company mainly distributed its pictures to small-town venues and independent theater chains, which changed their pictures three times a week. FBO would make their pictures appeal to every member of the American family.Film Booking Offices of America
The average cost per production was $50,000 to $75,000 equivalent to $ to $ in 2021 compared to the Major film studios which could spend five times as much to produce a movie.
also produced and distributed a limited number of big-budget features labeled "Gold Bond" or "Special" productions. Emory Johnson's eight films for FBO were all specials.
In 1923, Emilie and Emory Johnson signed a contract extension with FBO. The contract was for 2 years. The agreement stipulated Emory was to make eight attractions for FBO. The agreement specified that his previous four films would count toward the total. FBO also agreed to invest two and a half million dollars (In today's money – ) on the remaining four films. Another part of the new contract stipulated – "The contract also provides that Emory Johnson's mother, Mrs. Emilie Johnson, shall prepare all of the stories and write all the scripts for the Johnson attractions in addition to assisting her son in filming the productions."
"Between the 1922 reorganization of Film Booking Office of America and October 1923, Pat Powers, as one of the company's new American investors, was effectively in command. Powers changed the name of Robertson-Cole/FBO to the Powers Studio for a brief period, though there is no record of the company ever having produced or released a film under that banner." Powers resigned from F.B.O. on October 30, 1923.
Pre production Development Previously, Johnson's capitalized on the large working base of Police Officers, Firefighters, and railroad workers. On this occasion, he set his sights on postal workers. In 1922, the United States Post Office had 339,000 employees in America. The Bureau of Information of the Post Office Department is said to have 52,000 postmasters throughout the country. Those sorts of numbers would provide much free advertising.
Johnson and his mother were meticulous in their research or preproduction of these films. They consistently portrayed their lead characters in roles that showed their loyalty and dedication to the organization they served. A significant part of Emory Johnson's success in these films was that he coordinated his movies with huge entities, like police departments, firefighting units, railroads, and railroad yards. This time, he recruited the cooperation of the United States Postal Service and the US Navy. Ralph Lewis was the perfect lead for all these films about working wage earners.
Casting Ralph Lewis (1872–1931) was born on October 8, 1872, in Englewood, Illinois. The year-old actor would land his fourth starring role in an Emory Johnson production as Bob Morley, a working-class mailman. He previously had featured roles in Johnson's past three vehicles – In the Name of the Law, The Third Alarm and The West~Bound Limited. Lewis would later get another starring role in Johnson's seventh film for FBO – The Last Edition, released in November 1925. was Lewis's fifth and final film in an Emory Johnson production.Lewis's film debut came in 1911. Lewis appeared in 160 films between 1912 and 1938. Lewis will always be remembered for his role as abolitionist U.S. Representative Austin Stoneman in D. W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation (1915) and the governor in Intolerance (1916). The July 14, 1923, issue of noted: The June 5, 1923, edition of the Poughkeepsie Eagle-News observed: Johnnie Walker (1894–1949) was born on January 7, 1894, in New York City, New York. He was an established star when the year-old actor played Johnie Morley, Bob Morley's son. He previously had featured roles in Johnson's vehicles – In the Name of the Law, and The Third Alarm where he played Ralph Lewis character's son in both films. John Harron replaced Walker in the April 1923 production of The West~Bound Limited, but Walker reappeared in this film in his favored role of Ralph Lewis's son. Walker would later be featured in Johnson's sixth film for FBO – Life's Greatest Game, released in October 1924. was Walker's fifth and final role in an Emory Johnson production. Johnnie Walker appeared in five Emory Johnson FBO productions. He played the son of the film's leading father figure in each film. In each of Walker's supporting roles, the character was named Johnnie or a derivative.Walker is five feet eleven inches tall, with black hair and blue eyes. AFI credits the actor with 48 Titles in his Filmography. Martha Sleeper (1910–1983) was born on June 24, 1910, in Lake Bluff, Illinois. The year-old actress played Johnnie's kid sister—Betty Morley. This role would be her first appearance on the silver screen. Martha Sleeper was discovered by Emory Johnson before the shooting started in 1923. Although it should be pointed out, Sleeper was not just some chance discovery in a forgotten photo. She had an entertainment pedigree. Her father, mother, and uncle were in the entertainment business. After this role, she would appear comedies. In 1927, Sleeper was one of 13 actresses selected as a WAMPAS Baby Star i.e.one of the year's feminine personalities whom exhibitors thought had a promising future in feature films. She would remain active in the movie industry and Broadway between 1923 and 1945. After her entertainment career, she would rediscover herself and become a fashion icon. Virginia True Boardman (1889–1971) was born Margaret Shields on May 23, 1889, in Fort Davis, Texas. She was when she played mother Morley. This was her second role in an Emory Johnson production. She previously had appeared in The Third Alarm playing Ralph Lewis's wife - mother McDowell. Boardman began her theatrical career in 1906 and would continue to appear in 52 films between 1911 and 1936. David (Red) Kirby (1880–1954) was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 16, 1880. He was an established star when the year-old actor played one of the two heavies Jack Morgan. He had acted in hundreds of movies by the time this movie was produced. David was five feet eleven inches tall, with brown hair and brown eyes. AFI credits the actor/director with 33 Titles in Filmography. Richard Morris (1862–1924) was born on January 30, 1862, in Charlestown, Massachusetts. The year-old actor played Admiral Fleming. Morris had previously acted in In the Name of the Law and The Third Alarm. He would appear in a future Johnson production The Spirit of the USA before his untimely death in October 1924.Richard Morris American Film Institute Retrieved April 21, 2023 Hardee Kirkland (1868–1929) was born on May 23, 1868, in Savannah, Georgia. The year-old actor acted in the other heavie role of Captain Franz. Kirkland was active in the industry between 1912 – 1925 making 40 films. He would die in Los Angeles, California six years after making this film. Kirkland was also the son of former Confederate Brigadier General William Whedbee Kirkland.Hardee Kirkland American Film Institute Retrieved April 21, 2023 Josephine Adair (1921–1966) was born on June 27, 1916, in Lamar, Colorado. Adair was when she started acting in the role of Virginia. She had previously appeared in the Emory Johnson productions of In the Name of the Law and The Third Alarm. This would be her final performance in a Johnson production. Josephine Adair was the younger sister of another child actress, Elizabeth Adair.Josephine Adair American Film Institute Retrieved April 21, 2023
Director 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 allowed him to direct his first film.
Johnson was years old when he directed this film. was the fourth film in Emory Johnson's eight-picture contract with . His three previous FBO films had all been financially successful – In the Name of the Law, The Third Alarm, and The West~Bound Limited.