The Common Sin (1920)
A silent-era social drama about love, greed, and the devastating cost of a mother's mercenary ambitions.
The Common Sin - Movie Information
- Original Title: The Common Sin
- Release Year: 1920
- Directed by: Burton L. King
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 0m
- Original Language: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): July 1, 1920 (United States)
- Alternative Titles: For Your Daughter's Sake (US)
- Production Companies: Burton King Productions
- Production Countries: United States of America
The Common Sin - Plot
Wall Street financier Frederick Searles goes bankrupt, prompting his mercenary wife to marry their eldest daughter Needa to the wealthy, disreputable John Davis Warren, despite Needa's love for Hugh Stanton.
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The Common Sin - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Burton L. King
Main Cast
- Grace Darling
- Rod La Rocque
- Anders Randolf
- Nita Naldi
- James Cooley
- Stephen Grattan
- Alice Gordon
- Virginia Valli
Writers
- F. McGrew Willis
- Willard Mack
The Common Sin - FAQs
What is The Common Sin about?
The Common Sin follows Needa Searles, whose father's financial ruin leads her scheming mother to force her into marriage with the wealthy but disreputable John Davis Warren — all while Needa's heart belongs to Hugh Stanton. It's a sharp look at greed, social pressure, and the cost of mercenary ambition in early 20th-century America.
Why is Needa forced to marry John Davis Warren?
After Wall Street financier Frederick Searles goes bankrupt, his wife prioritizes wealth over her daughter's happiness. She arranges Needa's marriage to the rich but morally questionable John Davis Warren as a financial lifeline — a cold, calculated decision that drives the film's central conflict.
Who are the main actors in The Common Sin?
The cast features Grace Darling as the ill-fated Needa Searles, Rod La Rocque as her true love Hugh Stanton, and Anders Randolf as the villainous John Davis Warren. Nita Naldi — soon to become a major silent-era star — also appears as Warren's mistress, with Virginia Valli rounding out the ensemble.
Who directed The Common Sin?
Burton L. King directed The Common Sin, releasing it through his own production outfit, Burton King Productions. King was an active filmmaker during the silent era, working across drama and adventure genres throughout the 1910s and 1920s.
Is The Common Sin based on a true story?
The Common Sin is not based on a true story. The screenplay was written by F. McGrew Willis and Willard Mack, crafting an original dramatic narrative around themes of financial ruin, arranged marriage, and social ambition that were very much in the cultural conversation of the early 1920s.
Does The Common Sin have an alternative title?
Yes — the film was also released under the title For Your Daughter's Sake in the United States. Alternative titles were common practice during the silent era, often used for regional distribution or re-releases to attract different audiences.
What makes The Common Sin significant for film history?
The film is a notable early showcase for Nita Naldi, who would go on to become one of silent Hollywood's most celebrated vamps. It also features Virginia Valli early in her career. As a 1920 social drama, it reflects the era's anxieties around wealth, marriage as transaction, and women's limited agency.
What are some films similar to The Common Sin?
If you enjoy The Common Sin's themes of forced choices and family pressure, you might appreciate Persuasion (2022), What Maisie Knew (2013), or Bastard Out of Carolina (1996). Each explores how family ambition or dysfunction shapes the lives of those with the least power to resist it.
More About The Common Sin
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