''Youth's Endearing Charm'' (also known as ''Youth's Melting Pot'') is a 1916 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 ...
directed by
William C. Dowlan. The film stars
Mary Miles Minter
Mary Miles Minter (born Juliet Reilly; April 25, 1902Louisiana Birth Certificate, Caddo Parish, No. 119, Book A, Page 97, Birth Date: April 25, 1902, Name: Mary M. Reilly ic – Original Caddo birth record was recorded as "J.H. Riley's Child" ...
,
Wallace McDonald, and
Harry von Meter
Harry von Meter (March 20, 1871 – June 2, 1956; sometimes credited Harry van Meter) was an American silent film actor. He starred in about 200 films in the period from 1912 through 1929. He retired from acting just as sound films were beginni ...
. The script for the film was adapted by
J. Edward Hungerford from a novel of the same name written by
Maibelle Heikes Justice. This was Minter's first film with
Mutual Film
Mutual Film Corporation was an early American film conglomerate that produced some of Charlie Chaplin's greatest comedies. Founded in 1912, it was absorbed by Film Booking Offices of America, which evolved into RKO Pictures.
Founding
Mutua ...
, having previously been with
Metro Pictures
Metro Pictures Corporation was a motion picture production company founded in early 1915 in Jacksonville, Florida. It was a forerunner of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The company produced its films in New York, Los Angeles, and sometimes at leased f ...
. A print is preserved at the
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library ...
.
Plot
As described in film magazines,
orphan Mary Wade (Minter) is taken in by Farmer Jenkins and his wife. After two years of drudgery and ill-treatment, she runs away to the city along with her faithful dog Zippy. With no means of supporting herself, Mary poses as a blind beggar. This ruse lands her in jail, where a fellow custodian is Harry Disbrow, a wealthy young man who has been arrested for drunkenness.
Harry is rapidly released, and, having taken an interest in Mary, he finds her employment in his parents' home as a servant. He rapidly falls in love with her, but he has been engaged to Maud Horton, the daughter of his father's business partner. At a ball given to celebrate this engagement, Mary decides to don a dress of Maud's and attend; Mrs. Disbrow passes off the girl as her niece.
It transpires that Maud's father, George Horton, has been systematically robbing from the family, including stealing a bundle of securities from a safe during the ball. When the theft is discovered, a fight ensues between Horton and Mr. Disbrow. When the pocketbook containing the securities falls from Horton's pocket, Mary takes the opportunity to seize the securities, and also to break a vase upon Horton's head. In gratitude for her bravery and for saving the family's fortunes, the Disbrows approve of Mary's marriage to Harry.
Cast
*
Mary Miles Minter
Mary Miles Minter (born Juliet Reilly; April 25, 1902Louisiana Birth Certificate, Caddo Parish, No. 119, Book A, Page 97, Birth Date: April 25, 1902, Name: Mary M. Reilly ic – Original Caddo birth record was recorded as "J.H. Riley's Child" ...
as Mary Wade
*
Wallace MacDonald
Wallace Archibald MacDonald (5 May 1891 – 30 October 1978) was a Canadian silent film actor and film producer.
Biography
MacDonald was born in Mulgrave, Nova Scotia, Canada, and attended school in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
He started as a m ...
as Harry Disbrow
*
Harry von Meter
Harry von Meter (March 20, 1871 – June 2, 1956; sometimes credited Harry van Meter) was an American silent film actor. He starred in about 200 films in the period from 1912 through 1929. He retired from acting just as sound films were beginni ...
as John Disbrow
*
Gertrude Le Brandt as Mrs. Disbrow
*
Al Ferguson as Joe Jenkins
* Bessie Banks as Mrs. Jenkins
*
Harvey Clark as George Horton
*
Margaret Nichols as Maud Horton
References
External links
*
1916 films
1916 drama films
Silent American drama films
American silent feature films
American black-and-white films
Films based on American novels
Films directed by William C. Dowlan
1910s American films
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