''An Amateur Orphan'' is a 1917 American silent film starring
Gladys Leslie
Gladys Leslie Moore (March 5, 1899 – October 2, 1976) was an American actress in silent film, active in the 1910s and 1920s. Though less-remembered than superstars like Mary Pickford, she had a number of starring roles from 1917 to the ea ...
. It was also the film debut for
Chester Morris
John Chester Brooks Morris (February 16, 1901 – September 11, 1970) was an American stage, film, television, and radio actor. He had some prestigious film roles early in his career, and received an Academy Award nomination for ''Alibi'' ( ...
. Its survival status is currently unknown.
The screenplay was written by
Agnes Christine Johnston
Agnes Christine Johnston was an American screenwriter who wrote for more than 80 films between 1915 and 1948.
Biography
Early life
Johnston was born in Swissvale, Pennsylvania, to John Johnston and Isabel McElhany. She attended the Horace Ma ...
specifically for Leslie.
[(15 July 1917)]
Riverside
''Arizona Republican'' It was the first appearance of Leslie in a starring role after being dubbed the "girl with a million dollar style" for her performance in 1917's ''The Vicar of Wakefield''.
[Weitzel, Edward (2 June 1917)]
Review of Current Productions
''The Moving Picture World
The ''Moving Picture World'' was an influential early trade journal for the American film industry, from 1907 to 1927. An industry powerhouse at its height, ''Moving Picture World'' frequently reiterated its independence from the film studios.
I ...
'', p. 1456[Harris, Genevieve (30 June 1917)]
"An Amateur Orphan": Gladys Leslie Stars in Thanhouser-Pathe Feature
''Motography
''Motography'' was an American film journal that was first published in 1909 and ran until mid-1918. The magazine was published in 1909 and was originally named ''The Nickelodeon'',"Motography." The Bioscope. 9 Feb. 2009. Web. 4 Nov. 2015 http:// ...
'', p. 1393
Plot
The review in ''
Motography
''Motography'' was an American film journal that was first published in 1909 and ran until mid-1918. The magazine was published in 1909 and was originally named ''The Nickelodeon'',"Motography." The Bioscope. 9 Feb. 2009. Web. 4 Nov. 2015 http:// ...
'' describes the plot:
Marcia Schuyler (
Gladys Leslie
Gladys Leslie Moore (March 5, 1899 – October 2, 1976) was an American actress in silent film, active in the 1910s and 1920s. Though less-remembered than superstars like Mary Pickford, she had a number of starring roles from 1917 to the ea ...
) is a "poor little rich girl" who has everything but the companionship of other children. When her mother and father leave for Japan, Marcia begs her governess to allow her to exchange places with the latter's niece and to go to an orphan asylum instead of the finishing school selected by her parents. The governess, solicitous for her niece's welfare, agrees, and Marcia becomes an "amateur orphan".
After having a "lovely time" at the orphanage Marcia is adopted by a farmer's family. Into an atmosphere of gloom and misunderstanding Marcia brings her sunshiny spirit and straightens out many tangles. Then her parents return home unexpectedly and discover what has happened. Through an accident the record of Marcia's adoption is destroyed and her father offers a large reward for her discovery. Marcia's friend, Dave, the son of the family, thus wins a sufficient sum for an education.
Years later Dave has become a young business man. He loves Marcia and asks her to marry him. She promises to do so only if he will give up a city career and return to the farm so that at last she may have the sort of life she wishes.
Cast
*
Gladys Leslie
Gladys Leslie Moore (March 5, 1899 – October 2, 1976) was an American actress in silent film, active in the 1910s and 1920s. Though less-remembered than superstars like Mary Pickford, she had a number of starring roles from 1917 to the ea ...
as Marcia Schuyler
*
Isabel Vernon
Isabel is a female name of Spanish origin. Isabelle is a name that is similar, but it is of French origin. It originates as the medieval Spanish form of '' Elisabeth'' (ultimately Hebrew '' Elisheva''), Arising in the 12th century, it became popu ...
as Quincy
*
Thomas A. Curran
Thomas A. Curran (May 29, 1879 – January 24, 1941), was an Australian-born American actor on the stage and in motion pictures. Between 1915 and 1941 he appeared in 60 films, the last of which was '' Citizen Kane'', in which he played the ...
as Marcia's father
*
Jean Armour
Jean Armour (25 February 1765 – 26 March 1834), also known as the "Belle of Mauchline", was the wife of the poet Robert Burns. She inspired many of his poems and bore him nine children, three of whom survived into adulthood.
Biography
Born in ...
as Marcia's mother
*
Chester Morris
John Chester Brooks Morris (February 16, 1901 – September 11, 1970) was an American stage, film, television, and radio actor. He had some prestigious film roles early in his career, and received an Academy Award nomination for ''Alibi'' ( ...
as Dick
*
Ray Hallor
Ray Hallor (January 11, 1900 – April 16, 1944) was an actor in films in the United States.
Biography
Born in Washington, D.C., actresses Edith Hallor (1896–1971) and Ethel Hallor (1992–1982) were his siblings.
Hallor began working in ...
as Dave Benton
*
Justus D. Barnes as Dave's father
*Carey L. Hastings
*Grace DeCarlton
References
External links
*
''An Amateur Orphan''; Allmovie.com / synopsis''An Amateur Orphan'' afi.com entry
at silentera.com
1917 films
American black-and-white films
American silent feature films
Thanhouser Company films
Lost American films
Silent American drama films
1917 drama films
Pathé Exchange films
1917 lost films
Films directed by Van Dyke Brooke
1910s American films
{{1910s-drama-film-stub