Nell Gwyn is a 1926 British silent romance film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Dorothy Gish, Randle Ayrton and Juliette Compton. It was based on the 1926 novel Mistress Nell Gwyn by Marjorie Bowen and follows the life of Nell Gwynne, the mistress of Charles II. Wilcox later made a second version of the film in 1934, Nell Gwynn which starred Anna Neagle. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Nell Gwyn is first seen as an orange girl at the Old Drury Theatre in London. She attracts the eye of the King and he makes her one of the players at His Majesty's Theatre. She succeeds and winning the King's affection becomes his favorite, vieing with Lady Castlemaine for his favors. Through her efforts, a palace which he is building for her is converted into a home for disabled soldiers and sailors. When his hour of death nears, the King dies in her arms, with her name on his lips. Cast Dorothy Gish as Nell Gwyn Randle Ayrton as Charles II Juliette Compton as Lady Castlemaine Sydney Fairbrother as Mrs. Gwyn Donald Macardle as Duke of Monmouth Johnny Butt as Samuel Pepys Gibb McLaughlin as Duke of York Judd Green as Toby Clinker Edward Sorley as Dickon Forrester Harvey as Charles Hart Fred Rains as Earl of Shaftesbury Rolf Leslie as Evelyn Aubrey Fitzgerald as Tom Killigrew Tom Coventry as Innkeeper Booth Conway as Messenger Dorinea Shirley as Maid Production Wilcox said he got the idea to make the film after making The Only Way. He saw a theatre bill headlined by "Dolly Elswrothy" and remembered a sketch he saw where Elsworthy played Nell Gwyn. He cabled to see if Dorothy Gish was available and she accepted. Dorothy Gish was paid £7,000 (£1,000 a week plus expenses). Wilcox arranged to finance the film with an accountant, everyone contributing half. Wilcox says the accountant reneged and he had to finance the film entirely himself. To save money he edited the fim himself One report says the film was made for £20,000 and Wilcox sold it outright for £35,000. Wilcox says it was made for £14,000 and he sold it for £20,000. The company that bought it was British National Pictures. Reception Critical The New York Times wrote, "Whatever may be the shortcomings of English motion picture producers. If they can put together other pictures as simply and with