In this early Thanhouser film, I found the cinematography extremely impressive with plenty of amazing close-ups and other camera angles very well done for a silent 1915 film.
The story begins with a close-up of Mary ( Grace DeCarlton ) who anxiously awaits her first dance audition. She does very well dancing in the chorus with the other girls, the director takes her aside and declares she's got a lot of talent. The wardrobe mistress, Old Jane, ( Ethyle Cooke ) has also noticed the pretty new girl and takes a motherly interest in her. After the first show, Mary receives a bouquet of roses from an admirer with a letter inviting her and two of her chorus girl friends for a night on the town. Mary doesn't quite know what to think, when she receives another letter. This time her old beau has come to tell her she does not belong to this way of life and wants her to come back home and marry him. Mary thinks the situation over and with the other girls enthusiasm growing , she defiantly throws the beau's letter away. Old Jane reads the beau's letter and stops Mary, asking her to listen to her story. In flashback we see Old Jane, an elegant young dancer, with fame and plenty of admirers. She spurns her beaus offer of marriage for the stage, but one day Jane's luck runs out, her back is injured and she can no longer dance. She tells Mary she once saw her old beau, happily married with a family, but she has no one. Mary begins to realize her fame may become fleeting also, and to Old Jane's delight, Mary chooses her beau.
Grace DeCarlton had large expressive eyes and a beautiful complexion, perfectly suited for silent film, she absolutely glows in her close-ups. The film's condition is very good, but during the flashback scenes, there is some mottling from some deterioration to the film, however it does not take away from the story, which moves at a pleasing pace. At least Old Jane of the Gaiety survives for fans of early silent cinema to study and enjoy.
The story begins with a close-up of Mary ( Grace DeCarlton ) who anxiously awaits her first dance audition. She does very well dancing in the chorus with the other girls, the director takes her aside and declares she's got a lot of talent. The wardrobe mistress, Old Jane, ( Ethyle Cooke ) has also noticed the pretty new girl and takes a motherly interest in her. After the first show, Mary receives a bouquet of roses from an admirer with a letter inviting her and two of her chorus girl friends for a night on the town. Mary doesn't quite know what to think, when she receives another letter. This time her old beau has come to tell her she does not belong to this way of life and wants her to come back home and marry him. Mary thinks the situation over and with the other girls enthusiasm growing , she defiantly throws the beau's letter away. Old Jane reads the beau's letter and stops Mary, asking her to listen to her story. In flashback we see Old Jane, an elegant young dancer, with fame and plenty of admirers. She spurns her beaus offer of marriage for the stage, but one day Jane's luck runs out, her back is injured and she can no longer dance. She tells Mary she once saw her old beau, happily married with a family, but she has no one. Mary begins to realize her fame may become fleeting also, and to Old Jane's delight, Mary chooses her beau.
Grace DeCarlton had large expressive eyes and a beautiful complexion, perfectly suited for silent film, she absolutely glows in her close-ups. The film's condition is very good, but during the flashback scenes, there is some mottling from some deterioration to the film, however it does not take away from the story, which moves at a pleasing pace. At least Old Jane of the Gaiety survives for fans of early silent cinema to study and enjoy.
