The Straight Road (1914)
Drama | 12 November 1914
The 22 Aug 1914 Moving Picture World announced that as part of its campaign to introduce Broadway stars to motion pictures, Famous Players Film Co. had "engaged Blanche Walsh to be presented in a forthcoming release in her foremost dramatic triumph, 'The Straight Road,' one of the most popular plays from the pen of the great dramatist Clyde Fitch." However, Walsh, who was in her late thirties at the time, did not appear in the film, and was replaced by Gladys Hanson, who was ten years younger. Walsh, a highly regarded stage actress, appeared in only one film, Famous Players' three-reel Resurrection, in 1912, and died three years later.
Writing in the 21 Nov 1914 Moving Picture World, reviewer George Blaisdale remarked upon the importance of the early scene of the death of "Moll's" mother, "portrayed in a small circle of light. The face is in the dark, the dissolution being indicated only in the convulsive working of the hands....We are early shown the wonderful restraining influences upon Moll of the picture of the 'Mother of Sorrows.' There are recurring scenes running through the story, all of them revelatory of the battle going on in the mind of the girl as she struggles toward the better path." Blaisdale also praised the "lifelike" saloon scenes: "The training quarters for pugilists just off the backroom of the rumshop are the backgrounds for comedy as well as dramatic situations. Real prizefighters are here, men who can take as well as give 'wallops.' The expositions of the 'manly art' will go far toward adding to the popularity of the subject with the male portion of the ...
The 22 Aug 1914 Moving Picture World announced that as part of its campaign to introduce Broadway stars to motion pictures, Famous Players Film Co. had "engaged Blanche Walsh to be presented in a forthcoming release in her foremost dramatic triumph, 'The Straight Road,' one of the most popular plays from the pen of the great dramatist Clyde Fitch." However, Walsh, who was in her late thirties at the time, did not appear in the film, and was replaced by Gladys Hanson, who was ten years younger. Walsh, a highly regarded stage actress, appeared in only one film, Famous Players' three-reel Resurrection, in 1912, and died three years later.
Writing in the 21 Nov 1914 Moving Picture World, reviewer George Blaisdale remarked upon the importance of the early scene of the death of "Moll's" mother, "portrayed in a small circle of light. The face is in the dark, the dissolution being indicated only in the convulsive working of the hands....We are early shown the wonderful restraining influences upon Moll of the picture of the 'Mother of Sorrows.' There are recurring scenes running through the story, all of them revelatory of the battle going on in the mind of the girl as she struggles toward the better path." Blaisdale also praised the "lifelike" saloon scenes: "The training quarters for pugilists just off the backroom of the rumshop are the backgrounds for comedy as well as dramatic situations. Real prizefighters are here, men who can take as well as give 'wallops.' The expositions of the 'manly art' will go far toward adding to the popularity of the subject with the male portion of the house."
Mary "Moll" O'Hara, a girl of the slums, loves alcohol and fighting, a condition caused by her upbringing and carried on after the death of her drunken mother. However, because of her early Catholic training, she avoids the other pitfalls of a young woman on the street. One day, in "Bill" Hubbell's saloon, a disreputable woman named Lazy Liz attacks Moll, and during the fight the two are arrested. On their way to jail, the women are seen by wealthy settlement worker Ruth Thompson and her fiancé, Douglas Aines. Ruth arranges to have the women brought to the settlement, and Moll is absolved of guilt by Bill Hubbell, who tells Ruth that Liz started the fight. Moll gives up drinking at the urging of Ruth and Mike Finnerty, a little crippled boy, and her attitude about life improves. Having taken a shine to little Mike, Moll is invited by his mother, Mrs. Finnerty, to live with them, and Bill, impressed with Moll's change of character, begins a romance with her. Aines makes advances toward Moll, however, and when Ruth interrupts them, he convinces her that Moll is to blame. Eventually, Moll is able to convince both Ruth and Bill of her innocence by trapping Aines in her room. Bill Hubbell delivers a good thrashing to Douglas Aines, and then he and Moll begin their romance in ...
Mary "Moll" O'Hara, a girl of the slums, loves alcohol and fighting, a condition caused by her upbringing and carried on after the death of her drunken mother. However, because of her early Catholic training, she avoids the other pitfalls of a young woman on the street. One day, in "Bill" Hubbell's saloon, a disreputable woman named Lazy Liz attacks Moll, and during the fight the two are arrested. On their way to jail, the women are seen by wealthy settlement worker Ruth Thompson and her fiancé, Douglas Aines. Ruth arranges to have the women brought to the settlement, and Moll is absolved of guilt by Bill Hubbell, who tells Ruth that Liz started the fight. Moll gives up drinking at the urging of Ruth and Mike Finnerty, a little crippled boy, and her attitude about life improves. Having taken a shine to little Mike, Moll is invited by his mother, Mrs. Finnerty, to live with them, and Bill, impressed with Moll's change of character, begins a romance with her. Aines makes advances toward Moll, however, and when Ruth interrupts them, he convinces her that Moll is to blame. Eventually, Moll is able to convince both Ruth and Bill of her innocence by trapping Aines in her room. Bill Hubbell delivers a good thrashing to Douglas Aines, and then he and Moll begin their romance in earnest.
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