''The Telephone Girl and the Lady'' is a 1913 American silent drama film directed by

D. W. Griffith David Wark Griffith (January 22, 1875 – July 23, 1948) was an American film director. Considered one of the most influential figures in the history of the motion picture, he pioneered many aspects of film editing and expanded the art of the na ...

Plot

A telephone operator is walking out with a handsome police sergeant; her father insists that the husband for her is a plump, comfortable grocery store owner. The Lady picks up her jewels from the jewellery and brings them home, followed by a jewel thief on a stolen bicycle. She puts them in her safe, and goes to give the telephone girl a present of a necklace in thanks for her work. As the Lady answers the telephone and accepts the Telephone Girl's effusive thanks, the door creaks open – it is the masked thief! She tells the girl on the other end of the line that she's being robbed. While the thief grills the lady, the telephone girl calls the police, but there's a riot and calls about that prevent her getting through. She runs out of the exchange and spots the sergeant conveniently riding by. He lifts her onto his horse and they gallop to the rescue. Meanwhile, with an implicit rape threat the thief has forced the lady to reveal the safe concealed behind a picture. Just in time, the sergeant bursts in as the thief escapes with the jewels. After a rousing fight, helped by the feisty telephone girl and neighbours including a lady in a huge hat, the sergeant drags away the thief. The lady rewards the sergeant and the lovers fall into each other's arms.

Cast

* Mae Marsh as The Telephone Girl * Claire McDowell as The Lady *

Alfred Paget Alfred Paget (2 June 1879 – 8 October 1919) was an English silent film actor best known for his portrayal of Prince Belshazzar in D.W. Griffith's 1916 historical epic ''Intolerance''. He appeared in more than 230 films between 1908 and 19 ...

as The Telephone Girl's Sweetheart *

Walter P. Lewis Walter P. Lewis (June 10, 1866 – January 30, 1932) was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 55 films between 1912 and 1931. He was born in Albany, New York. Partial filmography * '' My Hero'' (1912) * '' Brutality'' (1912) ...

as The Father * Harry Carey as The Thief * John T. Dillon as The Grocery Man * Madge Kirby as The Telephone Operator * Joseph McDermott as The Jewelry Salesman * Kate Bruce as The Lady's Friend * Gertrude Bambrick as The Maid *

Lionel Barrymore Lionel Barrymore (born Lionel Herbert Blythe; April 28, 1878 – November 15, 1954) was an American actor of stage, screen and radio as well as a film director. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in ''A Free Soul'' (1931) ...

as The Desk Sergeant * Charles Hill Mailes

Production

The film was prepared by Griffith and shot by his assistant, Tony O'Sullivan. Film historian William K. Everson noted that the film made use of a moving camera in "some extremely good running inserts" and a "well-done fight between Paget and villain Harry Carey at the climax", but offered that the film did not have a good flow due to its awkward cuts and overuse of devices intended to prolong suspense.

References

External links

*
''The Telephone Girl and the Lady''
available for free download a
Internet Archive
{{DEFAULTSORT:Telephone Girl And The Lady 1913 films 1913 drama films 1913 short films Films directed by D. W. Griffith Silent American drama films American silent short films American black-and-white films Biograph Company films Films with screenplays by Anita Loos 1910s American films

Plot

Cast

Production

See also

References

External links