The copy I looked at was in poor condition. As much as a reel was missing, and there was extensive damage -- it looks like chemical damage and some chipping. It's one of the movies recovered from Dawson City. For those of you who have grown used to lookng at near-pristine copies, this will be unwatchable. As it is, I need to make some assumptions to fill in the story.
The little boy wants to grow up to make machines. One little girl wants to be rich, while the other wants to live in the country in a big house with perhaps a husband. They grow up to be Charles Gunn, Olive Thomas, and Margaret Thompson. Gunn has just signed a contract to install his new machines in a plant, and is off to New York to supervise their construction. Miss Thomas seems to be a successful and wealthy actress in New York. Miss Thompson was to marry Gunn, but he seems to have been dazzled by New York. She has been thrown out of her home, so travels to New York to stay with Miss Thomas, looking like a country hick. Miss Thomas gives her a makeover, and calls Gunn to meet her and a 'friend' at a fancy restaurant. Gunn is dazzled by Miss Thompson's new look; however, Miss Thomas realizes she's in love with him. Meanwhile, the bad guys are stirring up the workers at the plant, telling them they'll lose their jobs. They incite them to blow up the freight car of the new machines before they can be installed, which will bankrupt the company and drive Gunn to penury.... and dash Miss Thompson's newly reborn hopes.
Lambert Hillyer directs this one very well, and Miss Thompson's transformation is quite astounding. Miss Thomas, alas, despite her beauty, is not yet a good actor. Still, the two big set pieces in the movie, the restaurant with performers and a celebrating clientele, as well as the big race to get to the plant and save the machinery, are well done.
The little boy wants to grow up to make machines. One little girl wants to be rich, while the other wants to live in the country in a big house with perhaps a husband. They grow up to be Charles Gunn, Olive Thomas, and Margaret Thompson. Gunn has just signed a contract to install his new machines in a plant, and is off to New York to supervise their construction. Miss Thomas seems to be a successful and wealthy actress in New York. Miss Thompson was to marry Gunn, but he seems to have been dazzled by New York. She has been thrown out of her home, so travels to New York to stay with Miss Thomas, looking like a country hick. Miss Thomas gives her a makeover, and calls Gunn to meet her and a 'friend' at a fancy restaurant. Gunn is dazzled by Miss Thompson's new look; however, Miss Thomas realizes she's in love with him. Meanwhile, the bad guys are stirring up the workers at the plant, telling them they'll lose their jobs. They incite them to blow up the freight car of the new machines before they can be installed, which will bankrupt the company and drive Gunn to penury.... and dash Miss Thompson's newly reborn hopes.
Lambert Hillyer directs this one very well, and Miss Thompson's transformation is quite astounding. Miss Thomas, alas, despite her beauty, is not yet a good actor. Still, the two big set pieces in the movie, the restaurant with performers and a celebrating clientele, as well as the big race to get to the plant and save the machinery, are well done.
