Bits of Life (1921)
September 26, 1921Release Date
Plot.
Where to Watch.
Cast & Crew.
Wesley Barry
Tom Levitt, a boy
Rockliffe Fellowes
Tom Levitt
Lon Chaney
Chin Chow
Noah Beery
Hindoo
Anna May Wong
Toy Sing, Chin Chow's Wife
John Bowers
Dentist's Patient
Edythe Chapman
William J. Scully
Director
Media.
Details.
This Movie Is About.
Wiki.
Bits of Life is a 1921 American film produced and directed by Marshall Neilan. The cast included Lon Chaney and Noah Beery, Sr. For her performance in this film, Anna May Wong received her first screen credit. It is notable as an early anthology film, comprising four short stories: “The Bad Samaritan” by Thomas McMorrow, “The Man Who Heard Everything” by Walter Trumbull, “Hop” by Hugh Wiley, and “The Intrigue” by Marshall Neilan. The four stories were unrelated, shot with different casts, by different directors, and at different times. The poster called the format "The Magazine Idea brought to the screen". (Chaney only appeared in the "Hop" episode.) The film's tagline was "The Social World! The Underworld! and San Francisco's Chinatown!".Portions of the film were shot in San Francisco and at the Goldwyn Studios. The film premiered on Aug. 9, 1921 at the Raymond Theatre in Pasadena, California. Buster Keaton, Marshal Neilan and Charles Chaplin attended the premiere. The film went into general release on Sept. 26, 1921.
Bits of Life is considered lost. A still exists showing Chaney in his asian makeup, strangling Anna May Wong.