This is one of the few William deMille films to get a revival and a wonderful example of an early woman's picture and tale of transformation.
Lois Wilson plays an unmarried woman and household drudge in her sister's home who is abused mentally by her brother-in-law. Her trap is one of economics rather than completely her own insecurity, as we feel that Lulu in the back of her mind knows that she has much to offer! She is exploited because that's all she's ever known, and in no small part because of society's views on unmarried women at the time.
There is a very clever use of props and title cards in this movie because it was obviously made on a small budget. In one scene where she's doing dishes with her would be boyfriend, a title card reads, "Doing dishes isn't always a bad thing." The scene then continues to a very sweet sequence where he asks her how to dry the inside of a glass, she shows him, and he thumps his head as if to say, "What an idiot I am!" The actors all do a very fine job with body language and expression.
This rare example of William deMille's work as a producer and director is based on a Pulitzer Prize play and novel by Zona Gale and is directed and acted with understanding and discernment.
Watch it to see the differences between William and Cecil's style and for characterizations that are concrete and empathetic!
Lois Wilson plays an unmarried woman and household drudge in her sister's home who is abused mentally by her brother-in-law. Her trap is one of economics rather than completely her own insecurity, as we feel that Lulu in the back of her mind knows that she has much to offer! She is exploited because that's all she's ever known, and in no small part because of society's views on unmarried women at the time.
There is a very clever use of props and title cards in this movie because it was obviously made on a small budget. In one scene where she's doing dishes with her would be boyfriend, a title card reads, "Doing dishes isn't always a bad thing." The scene then continues to a very sweet sequence where he asks her how to dry the inside of a glass, she shows him, and he thumps his head as if to say, "What an idiot I am!" The actors all do a very fine job with body language and expression.
This rare example of William deMille's work as a producer and director is based on a Pulitzer Prize play and novel by Zona Gale and is directed and acted with understanding and discernment.
Watch it to see the differences between William and Cecil's style and for characterizations that are concrete and empathetic!