''The Sin of Olga Brandt'' is a 1915 American silent

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by

Joe De Grasse Joseph Louis De Grasse (May 4, 1873 – May 25, 1940) was a Canadians, Canadian film director. Born in Bathurst, New Brunswick, he was the elder brother of actor Sam De Grasse. Biography Joseph De Grasse had studied and was a first-class grad ...

and featuring

Lon Chaney Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (April 1, 1883 – August 26, 1930) was an American actor. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and affli ...

and Pauline Bush. Jon Mirsalis claims the film was written by Ida May Park (De Grasse's wife) and that "some sources suggest that the film, which preaches about the high morality of moving pictures, was instigated by (producer) Carl Laemmle, who was involved in censorship fights of his own over some of his releases". The film is now considered to be

lost Lost may refer to getting lost, or to: Geography *Lost, Aberdeenshire, a hamlet in Scotland * Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, or LOST, a hiking and cycling trail in Florida, US History *Abbreviation of lost work, any work which is known to have bee ...

. A still exists showing Lon Chaney as Stephen Leslie, trying to intimidate Olga Brandt (see plot).

Plot

Olga is a stenographer working in the office of an attorney, Stephen Leslie (Lon Chaney). She cares for her invalid sister who needs an expensive operation to save her life, so she appeals to her employer who agrees to give her the money only if she will give herself to him sexually. Having no choice, she reluctantly agrees to move in with him; however, three months later, her sister dies and she realizes her sacrifice was all for naught. Olga leaves the attorney and is befriended by the Rev. John Armstrong, who brings her to live with his mother. Their friendship blossoms into love and she and the reverend eventually marry. One year later, the town is embroiled in a controversy when the local theatre shows a silent movie entitled "Shall We Forgive Her?", which depicts a woman's story very similar to Olga's. Deacon Jellice wants the picture banned and a lawyer is called in to arbitrate. The lawyer turns out to be Stephen Leslie, who sees Olga and threatens to expose her past transgressions if she does not move back into his home and be his mistress once again. Olga plans to run away from both men this time and leaves a written confession for Reverend John to find, but on her way out of town, she chances to enter the theatre where the film is playing. She is moved by the story so similar to her own, and the film ends with the title "Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged". Leslie also sees the movie and becomes repentant. Catching Olga at the train station, he asks her forgiveness and tells her that she should go home to her husband. She returns home where the Reverend John has already read her confession, but remembering the moral of the picture, he forgives Olga and embraces her.

Cast

* Pauline Bush as Olga Brandt * William C. Dowlan as Rev. John Armstrong *

as Stephen Leslie, a vile attorney-at-law *

Cleo Madison Cleo Madison (born Lulu Bailey; March 26, 1883 – March 11, 1964) was a theatrical and silent film actress, screenwriter, producer, and director who was active in Hollywood during the silent era. Madison began her career on the stage. B ...

* Charles Manley as Deacon Jellice

Reception

"A two-reel number, featuring Pauline Bush, Wm. Dowlan and Lon Chaney. The girl stenographer consents to live with her employer because of her sick sister. The sister dies and the girl leaves him. Later she marries a young minister. The scene at the moving picture show, where the committee passes upon a similar situation, was to the point and interesting. The minister forgives his wife after her confession, remembering the biblical admonition, "Judge not that ye be not judged".... This is very well done for this type of offering. The photography is very good and the cast handles the story well." -- Moving Picture World "A delicate story handled in a manner which will not offend by Joseph De Grasse's company headed by Pauline Bush, Lon Chaney and William Dowlan."—Motion Picture News Blake, Michael F. (1998). "The Films of Lon Chaney". Vestal Press Inc. Page 33. .

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sin of Olga Brandt, The 1915 films American silent short films American black-and-white films 1915 drama films Lost American drama films Films directed by Joseph De Grasse Universal Pictures short films 1915 short films Silent American drama films 1915 lost films English-language drama films 1910s American films 1910s English-language films American drama short films