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"The Amazing Quest of Mr Ernest Bliss" was made in 1920, a five part serial film produced by Hepworth Picture Plays, directed and starring Henry Edwards with his wife Chrissie White. This London-set serial was a hit with public and press alike.
It is based on the book "The Curious Quest" [aka The Amazing Quest of Mr. Ernest Bliss] (1919) by E Phillips Oppenheim. A story outline and information is here but to give you a taste of this modern fairy tale read on....
Mr. Ernest Bliss (spot the symbolism in the name?), is a rich, spoilt, insipid young millionaire – sickly not from physical disease (except perhaps those complaints that result from an unhealthy lifestyle of excess), but from boredom and the dullness of a life lived without purpose or true intent.
He visits a famous doctor, who insults him and refuses to shake his hand, while offering him a piece of advice that is destined to change his life. He challenges Bliss to give up his luxurious lifestyle, and earn his own living for a year, without touching a penny from his inheritance. An enraged Bliss takes up the challenge, makes a bet and stands to lose £25,000, if he fails in his task! [Note that this sum in 1920 was considerable!]
What follows is an interesting year in the life of Mr. Bliss, who begins his quest with nothing more than £5 in his pocket and a stubborn resolve to win his bet! In that one life-changing year – he meets people from all walks of life, lives and learns the true meaning of poverty, discovers the value & importance of honest hard work & toil, understands the meaning of true friendship, and finally finds the happiness that comes from selflessness and true love!
As of August 2010, the film is missing from the BFI National Archive, and is listed as one of the British Film Institute's "75 Most Wanted" lost films.
As you can see from the stills below it captures some wonderful views of life in England at the time. A contemporary review from "The Bioscope" notes mentions the good use of the London locations and "remarkable example of street work".
The IMDB entry is here. More information is available from Wikipedia although it may not be entirely accurate.
This story was so popular, Hollywood made another version a decade later, this time starring the up and coming Cary Grant in the lead role. (aka. Romance and Riches, 1936). Once again Hepworth got there first! The Cary Grant version is rather more well known as a result and still gets occasional TV play.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Details of this film were kindly communicated to me by the late Silent Film scholar Townly Cooke. The 10 images on this page come from the 85 stills of this film in the Townly Cooke Collection. This website is grateful for Townly's many contributions to silent film history and are sad to note his passing.
Townly also contributed a Film Review from The Bioscope (Sept 1920), containing a huge amount of fascinating detail.
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