The Love Letter (1923)

Gladys Walton, who starred in many Universal Studios programmers in the early 1920s, was always good at playing working class girls. Here she's Mary Ann McKee, who's employed in an overall factory. As a joke, she slips a love letter into a pair of overalls, which eventually are purchased by Bill Carter, a country blacksmith (Edward Hearne). His friends send Mary Ann a letter, claiming that Carter is a millionaire in search of a bride, and sign his name. But Mary Ann is involved with Red Mike, a mean-tempered crook (George Cooper), and he doesn't find anything funny about the situation. He forces her to assist him in robbing a modiste's shop, but the police show up. Mary Ann manages to evade them, but Red Mike is captured and sent to prison. With him out of the way, Mary Ann packs her bags and heads for Carter. They end up falling in love and getting married. A baby completes their happiness. But then Red Mike gets out of prison and he comes looking for Mary Ann to take her back. She manages to bluff her way through the situation, and then he has a religious vision which inspires him to go straight. He realizes he has no place in Mary Ann's life and leaves her and Carter alone. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi