''A Pair of Silk Stockings'' is a 1918 American silent marital

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

starring

Constance Talmadge Constance Alice Talmadge (April 19, 1898 – November 23, 1973) was an American silent film star. She was the sister of actresses Norma and Natalie Talmadge. Early life Talmadge was born on April 19, 1898 in Brooklyn, New York, to poor par ...

and

Harrison Ford Harrison Ford (born July 13, 1942) is an American actor. His films have grossed more than $5.4billion in North America and more than $9.3billion worldwide, making him the seventh-highest-grossing actor in North America. He is the recipient o ...

. It was directed by Walter Edwards and produced and distributed by Select Pictures. The film is based on a 1914 Broadway play of the same name, and not related to the

Kate Chopin Kate Chopin (, also ; born Katherine O'Flaherty; February 8, 1850 – August 22, 1904) was an American author of short stories and novels based in Louisiana. She is considered by scholars to have been a forerunner of American 20th-century feminis ...

short story "

A Pair of Silk Stockings "A Pair of Silk Stockings" is an 1897 short story written by Kate Chopin. The story follows Mrs. Sommers who prefers spending a windfall on herself, rather than on her children. Plot summary Mrs. Sommers comes into the small fortune of $15. Aft ...

Plot

As described in a

film magazine Film periodicals combine discussion of individual films, genres and directors with in-depth considerations of the medium and the conditions of its production and reception. Their articles contrast with film reviewing in newspapers and magazines whi ...

, Molly Thornhill (Talmadge) and her husband Sam (Ford) disagree about automobiles and almost everything else. She buys a roadster while he prefers a

touring car Touring car and tourer are both terms for open cars (i.e. cars without a fixed roof). "Touring car" is a style of open car built in the United States which seats four or more people. The style was popular from the early 1900s to the 1930s. Th ...

, and to retaliate he buys a cloak for an actress and leaves the bill where Molly finds it. She gets a divorce and later they are both guests at a house party. Sam hides in her room so that he can explain things to her, but is mistaken for a burglar by the young man of the house and is bound and gagged with silk stockings by the man and Molly. Sam escapes while they are attempting to explain their presence together, and because they cannot produce the burglar Molly is asked to leave. She refuses until a burglar has been found. Sam is discovered wearing the silk stockings and Molly's reputation is saved when Sam confesses his part in the midnight escapade.

Cast

as Mrs. Molly Thornhill *

as Sam Thornhill *

Wanda Hawley Wanda Hawley (born Selma Wanda Pittack; July 30, 1895 – March 18, 1963) was an American actress during the silent film era. She entered the theatrical profession with an amateur group in Seattle, and later toured the United States and Can ...

as Pamela Bristowe *Vera Doria as Irene Maitland *Florence Carpenter as Maudie Plantaganet *Thomas Persse as Sir John Gower *

Louis Willoughby Louis Willoughby (10 July 1876 – 12 September 1968) was an English actor of the silent era. Born in England, he was married to artist Vera Willoughby and the father of artist Althea Willoughby. He lived his final years in the United Stat ...

as Captain Jack Bagnal *Helen Haskell as Angela *

Larry Steers Lawrence Wells Steers (February 14, 1888 – February 15, 1951) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 550 films between 1917 and 1951. He was born in Indiana, and died in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. Partial filmography * ' ...

as McIntyre (billed as L. W. Steers) *

Robert Gordon Robert Gordon may refer to: Entertainment * Robert Gordon (actor) (1895–1971), silent-film actor * Robert Gordon (director) (1913–1990), American director * Robert Gordon (singer) (1947–2022), American rockabilly singer * Robert Gordon (scr ...

as Brook *

Sylvia Ashton Sylvia Ashton (January 26, 1880 – November 18, 1940) was an American film actress of the silent film era. Ashton was born in Denver, Colorado. She bore a heavyset resemblance to Jane Darwell and like Darwell was playing mother and grand ...

as Lady Gower

References

External links

* * *The film is available from several DVD houses
Oldies.com
1918 films American films based on plays American silent feature films 1918 romantic comedy films American romantic comedy films American black-and-white films Selznick Pictures films Films directed by Walter Edwards 1910s American films Silent romantic comedy films Silent American comedy films {{1910s-comedy-film-stub