Sham
Poster
Directed by	Thomas N. Heffron
Written by	Douglas Z. Doty (adaptation)
Based on	Sham by Elmer Harris and Geraldine Bonner
Produced by	Jesse Lasky
Starring	Ethel Clayton Theodore Roberts Sylvia Ashton
Cinematography	C. Edgar Schoenbaum
Production company	Famous Players-Lasky
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	May 5, 1921 (1921-05-05)
Running time	50 mins.
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

Sham is a lost^[1] 1921 American silent romantic drama directed by Thomas N. Heffron and starring Ethel Clayton and Theodore Roberts. The film is based on the 1905 play of the same name written by Elmer Harris and Geraldine Bonner, and was adapted for the screen by Douglas Z. Doty.^[2]

Plot

Based upon a description in a film publication,^[3] Katherine Van Riper (Clayton) is an extravagant young society girl who is very much in debt, and her wealthy aunts and uncle refuse to give her any money. Katherine is desperate enough that she is considering marrying the wealthy Montee Buck (Hiers), although she is in love with the westerner Tom Jaffrey (Fillmore), who says he is poor. Finally, Katherine decides to sell the famous Van Riper pearls, pay off her debts, and marry Tom. However, upon examination the jewelry turns out to be paste, with her father having sold the genuine pearls several years earlier before his death. Montee is assured by the aunts that Katherine will marry him and tells this to Tom. Tom is about to leave town when Uncle James (Ricketts) steps in and pays off Katherine's debts, leaving the niece free to marry Tom.

Stars Ethel Clayton and Theodore Roberts featured in a promotional ad for the film.^[4]

Cast

• Ethel Clayton as Katherine Van Riper
• Clyde Fillmore as Tom Jaffrey
• Theodore Roberts as Jeriamiah Buck
• Sylvia Ashton as Aunt Bella
• Walter Hiers as Montee Buck
• Helen Dunbar as Aunt Louisa
• Arthur Edmund Carewe as Bolton
• Tom Ricketts as Uncle James
• Blanche Gray as Clementine Vickers
• Eunice Burnham as Maud Buck
• Carrie Clark Ward as Rosie