John M. Stahl Movies
After a cursory public school education, 16-year-old John Stahl became a stage actor. Entering films as a bit player in 1913, he was hired by Vitagraph's Brooklyn studio as a director one year later. Most of his work under the Vitagraph banner has been lost to the ages, though it has been confirmed that he directed a series of historical shorts under the umbrella title The Lincoln Cycle. In 1917, he moved to the New York studios of producer Louis B. Mayer, and a few years later was on the ground floor when Mayer's operation was absorbed into the new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios. After several years as an MGM director, he became vice president and "directional producer" of his own company, Tiffany-Stahl, in 1927. When talkies arrived, he sold his interest in Tiffany-Stahl to sign with Universal. His major works at this studio included such theatrical and literary derivations as Strictly Dishonorable (1931), Back Street (1932), Imitation of Life (1934), and Magnificent Obsession (1935). It was during this period that Stahl developed his directorial "signature": a deft blend of sentimentality, hothouse melodrama, and baroque romanticism, with emphasis on strong, self-reliant female characters. His career suffered a setback in 1936 when he produced and directed MGM's Parnell, notorious as Clark Gable's worst and least successful starring feature. Stahl bounced back in 1938 with another producer/director gig, A Letter of Introduction, wherein he successfully melded such highly individualized stars as Adolphe Menjou, Andrea Leeds, and Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy. Freelancing during the early '40s, he moved to 20th Century Fox in 1943, where for the next six years he turned out such solid box-office attractions as Keys to the Kingdom (1943) and the classic "I love you to death" soaper Leave Her to Heaven. He retired in 1949, and died one year later. In his heyday, John Stahl was a major influence on those directors specializing in what were then called "women's pictures": None, apparently, were more influenced than the equally skilled Douglas Sirk, who during the 1950s and early '60s, directed remakes of three of Stahl's most popular films: Magnificent Obsession (1956), Interlude (the 1957 remake of 1939's When Tomorrow Comes), and Imitation of Life (1959). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1930
In this melodrama, a husband gets on with his life after his wife goes to Europe to get a divorce. Thinking the deed done, the husband marries another. Unfortunately, his first wife returns and tells him that she never went through the procedure and that she has no intention of ever freeing him. His second wife becomes distraught and attempts to kill herself. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Conrad Nagel, Genevieve Tobin, (more)
A master blend of high comedy and tense emotional drama, A Letter of Introduction reteams Adolphe Menjou, Andrea Leeds, and Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy, who'd previously costarred in the negligible Goldwyn Follies. Menjou plays John Mannering, a Barrymoresque actor who years earlier had divorced his wife and severed his relationship with his daughter Kay (Andrea Leeds). Now a grown woman, Kay aspires to an acting career, fully determined to make it on her own without her father's help. She goes so far as to change her last name to Martin, and to keep her actual relationship to Mannering a secret from the public. This set-up leads to a dizzying series of complications, including the breakup of Mannering's romance with a tootsie named Lydia Hoyt (Anne Sheridan), who falsely assumes that Kay is Mannering's mistress, and Kay's own romantic travails with vaudeville hoofer Barry Paige (George Murphy). Meanwhile, Kay's ventriloquist friend Bergen and his dummy McCarthy rise to superstardom on radio. It is, in fact, Bergen and Charlie who are instrumental in reuniting the estranged Mannering and Kay, paving the way for the film's tear-stained conclusion. Unavailable for many years, A Letter of Introduction re-emerged on the Public Domain circuit in 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adolphe Menjou, Andrea Leeds, (more)
- 1932
Based on a best-selling novel by Fannie Hurst, Back Street concerns an ill-starred couple, Rae (Irene Dunne) and Walter (John Boles). Rae meets Walter and falls hopelessly in love with him; Walter is also drawn to Rae, but he has already pledged to marry another woman and can't find a way out. They part, and for a while Rae takes up with someone else; Walter needs to leave the country and impulsively tries to arrange a marriage with Rae, but she is unable, due to her new beau, and he sails away without her. When Rae next encounters Walter, he has married a woman from a wealthy family. Even though he's wedded to another, a passion still burns between Walter and Rae, and they enter into an illicit affair. Over the course of nearly 30 years, Rae turns down opportunities to marry other men to live a shadowy life as Walter's mistress, until she accepts a proposal of marriage when she's convinced that Walter is finally through with her. This was the first of three film versions of Hurst's story; remakes were released in 1941 and 1961. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Irene Dunne, John Boles, (more)
- 1921
This awkwardly titled drama makes for an interesting look into the morals of the first part of the 20th century. On her wedding day, Norma Huntley (Barbara Castleton) wants to tell Edward Berkley, her husband-to-be (Lewis Stone), her secret -- that she mothered a child out of wedlock which subsequently died. Her mother (Adele Farrington) forbids her to reveal this. Only moments after the ceremony, it is discovered that the child, now three, is actually alive. Berkley, incensed at this turn of events, agrees to adopt the child and remain married for appearance's sake -- but when he finds the father, he will kill him. He comes to suspect that family friend Tom Marshall (William Desmond) is the guilty party and invites him to the couple's country home to keep an eye on him. When Berkley finds Tom and Norma in the hall together during a storm, he shoots him, but then Norma reveals that the father was a soldier who attacked her while she was serving as a nurse in Belgium. Upon hearing her tale, Berkley realizes that he is the guilty one. He is ready to commit suicide, but Norma insists that they stay together and raise their child. Luckily, Marshall has only suffered a minor wound. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1922
This mediocre drama laid on the pathos in an attempt to draw in the sentimental audiences of the early '20s. Amos Tilden (Edward Peil) is a railroad worker, and his wife, Mary (Georgia Woodthorpe), grows tired of their drab existence. Finally, she abandons both her husband and baby boy, not realizing that shortly afterwards, Amos is killed in an accident. Mary winds up working as a dishwasher in the big city and leading a life as drab as the one she had with Amos. After a couple of decades of this bare existence, she makes the acquaintance of David, a young writer (Gaston Glass). Mary recognizes David as her own son, but he reveals so much bitterness toward his absent mother, that Mary thinks better of revealing her identity. David's wife, Aline (Grace Darmond), has grown tired of her life and is planning to run off with another man. David discovers the affair and shoots Aline's lover. To save her son, Mary takes the blame, finally revealing to him that she is his mother. Luckily for them both, the shot was not fatal. Aline learns her lesson and returns to David, and Mary is united with them both. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gaston Glass, Grace Darmond, (more)
- 1949
First came 20th Century-Fox's Mother Was a Freshman; then, a few months later, the same studio's Father Was a Fullback. Fred MacMurray stars as college football coach George Cooper, whose team can't win a game to save its life. George finds some comfort in the arms of his wife Elizabeth (Maureen O'Hara), but his young daughters Connie (Betty Lynn) and Ellen (Natalie Wood) are too concerned with boys to pay their dad any attention. Connie causes no end of trouble for George by printing a highly imaginative article about her various romances. On the verge of losing his job, George is saved by the arrival of football champ Joe Burch (Richard Tyler). Rudy Vallee virtually repeats his stuffy-suitor characterization from Mother is a Freshman in Father Was a Fullback. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fred MacMurray, Maureen O'Hara, (more)
- 1925
Fashions for Men was a satirical play by Franz Molnar. In the hands of film company First National, it became a sincere, unsophisticated drama. Kindly Peter Hungerford (Percy Marmont) is a London clothes merchant who has saved up 500 dollars to stave off impending bankruptcy. His plans are ruined when his wife, Adele (Eileen Percy), takes the money and runs off with his clerk, Oscar (Raymond Griffith). Hungerford finds work managing the cheese business for the Earl of Denham (Lewis S. Stone). His former cashier, Paula (Alma Rubens), goes with him and becomes the earl's secretary. The earl pursues Paula, but Hungerford watches over her so carefully that he hampers the affair. The earl wants to fire him, but can't bear to hurt such a kindly man. The creditors of Hungerford's old store ask him to return, and Paula, who realizes she loves him, not the earl, follows. Oscar shows up, destitute and looking for work. The good-natured Hungerford is willing to take him back, but Paula -- who is not so forgiving -- shows the ex-clerk the door. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lewis Stone, Percy Marmont, (more)
- 1926
MGM's The Gay Deceiver was based on Toto, a stage play by Maurice Hennequin and Felix DuQuesnal. Lew Cody stars as Toto, a celebrated French actor whose globetrotting career distances him from his loving family. While on tour, he has an affair with a married woman, who moves heaven and earth to keep her husband from finding out. But find out he does, with results ranging from hilarious to heavily dramatic. Gay Deceiver co-stars Lew Cody and Carmel Myers were reteamed soon afterward in The Demi-Bride. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lew Cody, Marceline Day, (more)
- 1919
Helen (Florence Reed) is an American art student studying in Paris. She rejects fellow student Tom Davis (Alec Francis) in favor of Jacques (Irving Cummings), who turns out to be married. Nevertheless a daughter, Alice, is born out of their union. Tom comes into money and returns to the States, but when Helen dies, she entrusts Alice to him, and she grows up at Tom's mansion. As a young woman, Alice (also portrayed by Reed) becomes involved with Eugene LaSalle (William Desmond) and they are engaged. But when Eugene pulls out a ring at a party, Alice is horrified. An old note from her mother described this particular ring, which would identify someone related to Jacques. She is convinced this means she and Eugene are brother and sister, and since they have already become intimate, they decide their only option is to take their own lives. At the last minute, Eugene discovers that Jacques was only his stepfather, and the couple are free once again to marry. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1943
A man trying to leave his fame behind discovers the perils of choosing to be the wrong unknown person in this farcical British comedy. Priam Farli (Monty Woolley) is an eccentric but famous and well-respected artist who prefers to work in total seclusion -- so much so that he's spent the last 20 years creating his paintings while living on an isolated island in the Pacific, with only his valet, Henry Leek (Eric Blore), for company. When word reaches Farli that he is to be knighted by King Edward VII (Edwin Maxwell), the artist reluctantly sails back to Great Britain with Leek, but en route, his devoted servant dies. Seeing a perfect opportunity to once again escape the public eye, Farli poses as Leek and claims that the great painter was the one who passed away. Farli is not allowed to attend his own funeral, but things get more complicated when Alice Challice (Gracie Fields) appears with a letter in which Leek proposes marriage to her. Wanting to maintain his cover, Farli goes through with the wedding, only to find that Leek was already married, and his first wife (Una O'Connor) would like some explanations as to why her Henry has taken another wife, not to mention wondering where he's been for the past two decades. Laird Cregar, Alan Mowbray, and Fritz Feld highlight the supporting cast. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Monty Woolley, Gracie Fields, (more)
- 1924
When Lewis Stone (the future Judge Hardy) is the leading man, Florence Vidor co-stars as his wife, and Lew Cody portrays the other man, you've obviously got a quality silent feature. James Livingston (Stone) has been married to Grace (Vidor) long enough to take her for granted. Grace, on her end, is allowing herself to become drab. When Livingston suggests that his wife might do something to brighten up her appearance, she eagerly dolls up like a flapper. Livingston is not thrilled with the changes she has made, but his friend, Rex Phillips (Cody), thinks it's great. He starts seeing Grace on the sly, and eventually Livingston finds out. He and Grace agree to a divorce, but just as she is about to marry Phillips, Livingston has a change of heart. He realizes that he really loves Grace after all and he literally drags her from the altar to remarry her himself. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Florence Vidor
- 1934
The first of two film version of Fannie Hurst's novel, 1934's Imitation of Life chronicles the friendship between two women--one white (Claudette Colbert), one black (Louise Beavers). Colbert is a widow with a baby daughter who hires Beavers, who also has a daughter, as a housekeeper. Colbert is a working girl who yearns to operate her own business, which she does thanks to Beavers' special pancake recipe. A family friend (Ned Sparks) suggests that the ladies form a corporation to merchandise the "Aunt Delilah" pancake mix, and within ten years both women are quite wealthy. Colbert's relationship with her teenaged daughter (Rochelle Hudson) is strained when both ladies vie for the attentions of the same man, but these problems are minor compared to the travails of Beavers, who not only must deal with the De Facto segregation of the 1930s but must also contend with her restless daughter (Fredi Washington), who resents being an African-American and attempts to pass for white. The heartbroken Beavers dies, and at her funeral her now-chastened daughter weeps out her apologies for turning her back on her mother. Imitation of Life was remade in 1959, its story glamorized and updated to accommodate star Lana Turner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claudette Colbert, Warren William, (more)
- 1927
Legendary (and, to some, infamous) African-American comedian Stepin Fetchit made his first screen appearance in In Old Kentucky. This second cinemazation of Charles T. Dazey's war-horse play throws out most of the original plot in favor of a new yarn involving a returning soldier (James Murray), who rescues his family estate from rack and ruin. The play's famous Kentucky Derby finale remains, however, and it's as pulse-pounding as ever. Stepin Fetchit's role of "Highpockets" provides a few oases of welcome comedy relief. In Old Kentucky would be filmed for a third time in 1935, rewritten to accommodate the talents of Will Rogers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Helene Costello, Wesley Barry, (more)
Gene Tierney portrays a beautiful but unstable woman who marries successful novelist Cornel Wilde. Tierney wants to spend all her time with her new husband, but finds it impossible to do so thanks to his work and the frequent visits of family and friends. When Wilde's crippled younger brother (Darryl Hickman) comes to the couple's summer house to stay, Ms. Tierney indirectly causes the boy to drown. Later, upon discovering that she's pregnant, Tierney deliberately falls down the stairs, choosing to miscarry rather than share her husband's affections with an infant. When it becomes clear that family friend Jeanne Crain is attracted to her husband, Ms. Tierney commits suicide, making her death appear to be murder and framing Crain for the "crime." In court, Ms. Crain is mercilessly grilled by prosecuting attorney Vincent Price, who happens to be Tierney's ex-lover! Filmed in lush Technicolor, Leave Her to Heaven is based on the best-selling novel by Ben Ames Williams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gene Tierney, Cornel Wilde, (more)
- 1927
The venerable stage drama The World and His Wife formed the basis for the MGM production Lovers?. Ramon Novarro and Alice Terry, who previously co-starred in Scaramouche, The Prisoner of Zenda and The Arab, are herein reteamed as Ernesto and Teodora, respectively. Teodora is the new young wife of diplomat Don Julian (Ernest Martindel), Ernesto's guardian. It doesn't take long for Ernesto to fall in love with Teodora, leading to ugly gossip throughout Madrid. Defending Teodora's honor, Ernesto agrees to a duel, but at the last minute Don Julian takes the boy's place on the field of honor, losing his life in the process. Ernesto then steps in to kill Don Julian's opponent, whereupon he is banished from Spain. The final scene shows Ernesto and Teodora en route to Argentina, both hoping to pick up the pieces of their lives; this scene appears to have been tacked on at the insistence of the MGM brass, suggesting that perhaps the original ending of Lovers? was somewhat more downbeat. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ramon Novarro, Alice Terry, (more)
- 1935
A man who has ruined a woman's life attempts to make good on his debt to her (and his conscience) in this sudsy drama based on a best-selling novel by Lloyd C. Douglas. Bobby Merrick (Robert Taylor) is an alcoholic ne'er-do-well whose recklessness causes the death of Dr. Hudson, a respected physician. Helen Hudson (Irene Dunne), the doctor's widow, turns away from Merrick's apology, only to walk into traffic. She's struck by a car and blinded. Shaken by the tragic events, Merrick gives up alcohol and begins studying to become a doctor and right the wrong he's done to Helen. As he begins spending time at the family's estate through a mutual friend, Helen grows fond of his frequent visits, and they begin to fall in love. However, when Helen learns that Merrick is responsible for her husband's death and her own accident, she moves away to a place where he cannot find her. In time, Merrick becomes a gifted eye surgeon, and he learns that he could restore Helen's sight with a delicate and dangerous operation that he has never performed before. Magnificent Obsession was a box-office success that spawned a 1954 remake directed by Douglas Sirk and starring Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Irene Dunne, Robert Taylor, (more)
- 1928
Marriage by Contract was produced and directed by John M. Stahl for his own Tiffany-Stahl Studio. Although only a part-talkie, the film represented the sound debut of Patsy Ruth Miller, here cast as Margaret, one of the longest-suffering heroines in screen history. Having entered into a contract to marry a young man named Don (Lawrence Grey), Margaret storms out of the honeymoon suite when Don shows up drunk and disheveled, bragging about his various sexual conquests. Despite this appalling experience, Margaret goes through three more contracted marriages, each union leaving her a bit worse off than the previous one. On the verge of committing suicide, an aged and infirm Margaret suddenly wakes up to find herself young and beautiful again. Realizing that she's been just been having a horrible dream, our heroine hastily dons her wedding gown and rushes off to find faithful Don still waiting at the chapel. Marriage by Contract represents an acting tour de force for Patsy Ruth Miller, who in 1928 was better known for her light comedy roles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patsy Ruth Miller, Lawrence Gray, (more)
- 1926
Memory Lane is a vehicle for stars-in-the-making Eleanor Boardman and William Haines, both winners of an extensive MGM talent search. Boardman plays Mary, in love with poor-but-honest working stiff Joe Field (William Haines). But when Joe leaves town to seek his future in the Big City, Mary decides to marry Jimmy Holt (Conrad Nagel), son of the town's richest man. Upon his return, the heartbroken Joe kidnaps Mary, certain that she's still in love with him, but realizes he's acting like an idiot and sets her free. Knowing now that Mary genuinely adores her husband, Joe leaves town for good -- but not before making absolutely certain that the girl will forever despise his memory, thereby sacrificing his own happiness for the sake of hers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eleanor Boardman, Conrad Nagel, (more)
- 1949
Another of 20th Century-Fox's Technicolor musical biopics, Oh You Beautiful Doll is allegedly the life story of popular composer Fred Fisher. As played by S. Z. "Cuddles" Sakall, Fisher is a serious musician who yearns to write opera rather than tin pan alley hits. Since the aged, portly Sakall couldn't be the romantic lead, he is third-billed in deference to June Haver as Fisher's daughter and Mark Stevens as a slick song plugger. Despite his shame at being popular, Fisher is gratified when his songs are given a classy symphonic arrangement at Aeolian Hall. Among the tunes heard in Oh, You Beautiful Doll are "Chicago," "Dardanella," "Peg o' My Heart" and the title song. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- June Haver, Mark Stevens, (more)
- 1922
Veteran silent star Henry Walthall shines in this drama, based on the novel by Frances Nimmo Greene. In spite of the complaints from his sister, Maggie Thornton (Irene Rich), Dr. Alan Hamilton (Milton Sills) insists on befriending Henry Garnett (Warner), who runs a gambling hall. A young woman (Claire Windsor) is brought into Hamilton's hospital unconscious, and she refuses to reveal her identity. Hamilton falls in love with the girl, who he calls Faith, and she is the only one who encourages his friendship with Garnett. On the night he keeps a rioting mob away from the gambling hall, he reveals to Faith that he is looking for Garnett's long-lost wife because the gambler has only a limited time to live. Faith finally reveals that she is the wife, but Hamilton turns around and urges her to keep her secret. His bad advice eats away at him, and he turns to drink until he is compelled to tend to his nephew, who has been badly injured. He then takes Faith to Garnett, but the dying gambler wishes her only happiness and releases her from her bond to him by drinking poison. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Milton Sills, Claire Windsor, (more)
- 1933
Distantly related to Frederick Lewis Allen's non-fiction book of the same name, Only Yesterday uses fictional characters to trace the years between 1917 and 1929. Wealthy New Yorker John Boles recalls a long-ago affair with southern belle Margaret Sullavan. She gave birth to his child without ever naming the father, then moved to New York herself and set up a dress shop. As the stock-market crash of 1929 wipes out his life savings, Boles becomes remorseful over how he's forgotten Sullavan, who is now dying. He acknowledges that he is the father of her child, and promises to make a good life for the boy despite his dire financial situation. Only Yesterday opens with a remarkable montage sequence showing the devastating effects of the Depression; after that, it never quite gains momentum despite the superb performance of Margaret Sullavan (in her film debut). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Margaret Sullavan, John Boles, (more)
- 1941
Dumped by wife Ellen Drew, musician Melvyn Douglas goes into a creative slump. His gloom is lifted when he falls in love with Ruth Hussey (with a little help from Hussey's foxy papa Charles Coburn). Soaring to hitherto unimaginable heights of fame after marrying Hussey, Douglas suddenly becomes attractive again to the scheming Drew. She attempts to win him back by pretending to be crippled and confined to a wheelchair. Though Hussey sees through the ruse, she is unable to prove anything until Drew trips herself up. Watch for the clever (and most satisfying) application of the "THE END" title in Our Wife. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Melvyn Douglas, Ruth Hussey, (more)
- 1937
The true story of one of Ireland's leading political figures of the late 19th Century inspired this biographical drama. Charles Stewart Parnell (Clark Gable) is a politician and activist whose tireless work towards the cause of Irish independence has earned him the nickname "the Uncrowned King of Ireland." After a fund-raising trip to the United States, Parnell is introduced to Katie O'Shea (Myrna Loy), whose husband Willie O'Shea (Alan Marshall) is running for Parliament. In truth, Katie and Willie's marriage is on its last leg; she despises him, but he refuses to give her a divorce, in part because Katie's wealthy Aunt Bea (Edna Mae Oliver) is willing to pay him to keep his distance. Willie hopes that a friendship between Katie and Parnell could be a stepping stone towards an endorsement from Parnell -- which, given his popularity, would make a massive difference in the polls. However, as Parnell continues to rally support for a free Ireland, he finds he's fallen in love with Katie, and she is also strongly attracted to him. When Willie learns of their romance, he makes a devious proposal to Parnell -- with an independent Irish state seemingly imminent, and with Parnell the likely leader, Willie demands a high office within his administration, or otherwise he'll tell the world about Parnell's affair with a married woman, which could end his career and set the cause of Irish freedom to a halt. Parnell was an infamous box-office disappointment in its day, and Gable's significant other Carole Lombard was said to have loved teasing him about the film; it's failure led Gable to pledge he'd never make another costume picture, though he later relented when Gone With The Wind came along. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, (more)
- 1931
In this three-hanky melodrama, an aspiring writer abandons his wife and five children to work more closely with a beautiful woman who works for a prominent publishing company. Ten years pass and the writer has become extremely popular despite the fact that his work is consistently trashed by literary critics. The critics have good reason; to support his new wife's exorbitantly high standard of living, he must churn out pulp mysteries. His ex-wife, who still loves him, decides to help him and invites him to visit the family. He does and suddenly finds himself pining for them. He begs his ex-wife to let his adolescent offspring come to live with him. She does and moves them to New York. His second wife, feeling insecure by her husband's newfound love for his children feels ignored. Bette Davis plays the author's adult daughter. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Boles, Genevieve Tobin, (more)
- 1921
Rosamond Athelstane (Anita Stewart) has been raised in a convent, ignorant of the fact that the woman who claims to be her guardian (Myrtle Stedman) is actually her mother. Because of her sinful life, she has been keeping this fact a secret. When Rosamond discovers that this supposed guardian runs a gambling den, she is so shocked that she breaks all ties with her. A year or so passes and Rosamond manages to become a highly successful actress. She falls in love with Ned Annesley (James Morrison). She doesn't realize that Ned is the adopted son of Brabazon, the father she never knew (Ralph Lewis). There is much antagonism between Brabazon and Rosamond until everyone's identities are sorted out. The only character who doesn't end the film happily is the mother, who dies for her wicked life. Sidney Grundy's novel was shot once before, in 1916. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anita Stewart, Ralph Lewis, (more)
