Rich Men's Sons (1927)
Directed by Harry Cohn / Ralph Graves
Share on
Synopsis by Hal Erickson
For unknown reasons, Harry Cohn, prickly president of Columbia pictures, is listed as the director of several of his studio's late-silent releases. Though attributed to Cohn by the editors of the trade magazine Variety, Columbia's Rich Men's Sons was actually directed by Ralph Graves, who also co-wrote and starred in the picture. Graves has cast himself as the ne'er-do-well son of wealthy George Fawcett (who died not long after the film's completion). To avoid going to work in the family business, Graves threatens to expose a past indiscretion of his father's, using an incriminating photo as a bargaining chip. Only when Fawcett gives in to his son does he discover that the "evidence" was non-existent. By this time, however, Graves has made good on his own, so dad is willing to forgive and forget (even if the audience isn't!).
Characteristics
Keywords
blackmail, business, indiscretion