Tillie the Toiler (1927 film)

Tillie the Toiler
Lobby card
Directed by Hobart Henley
Written by A. P. Younger (screenplay)
Ralph Spence (intertitles)
Story by Agnes Christine Johnston
Edward T. Lowe Jr.
Based on Tillie the Toiler
by Russ Westover
Produced by Marion Davies
Cosmopolitan Productions
Starring Marion Davies
Cinematography William H. Daniels
Edited by Daniel J. Gray
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • May 21, 1927
Running time
7 reels
Country United States
Language Silent (English intertitles)
Budget $505,000

Tillie the Toiler is a 1927 American silent film comedy produced by Cosmopolitan Productions and released through Metro Goldwyn Mayer studios. It is based on Russ Westover's popular comic strip Tillie the Toiler. The film was directed by Hobart Henley and stars Marion Davies.

Another adaptation of the same title was released in 1941.

Plot

Cast

Marion Davies, Gertrude Short and Matt Moore in Tillie the Toiler

Production

In her 24th film, Marion Davies starred as the scatterbrained Tillie Jones, which was based on the famous comic strip. Davies donned a black wig for the part and remembered that she worked on this film while she was also working on The Red Mill. She recalled that for six weeks, she had to sleep on a couch in her bungalow. This was another hit film for Davies. Lucille Ball always claimed she had a bit part as an extra in this film, but was only 16 years old and was still on the East Coast while Tillie the Toiler was shot in Hollywood. Ball always claimed Davies as one of her role models.

Survival Status

The only known print exists at the Eastman House Museum in Rochester, New York.