A Lady's Name is a 1918 American silent drama-comedy film directed by Walter Edwards. The film stars Constance Talmadge, Harrison Ford and Emory Johnson. The film was released on December 10, 1918, by Select Pictures.[1][2]

A Lady's Name
Magazine ad
Directed byWalter Edwards
Written by
Produced bySelect Pictures Corporation
Starring
CinematographyJames Van Trees
Distributed bySelect Pictures Corporation
Release date
  • March 1918 (1918-March)
Running time
5 reels
CountryUSA
LanguageSilent (English intertitles

Background

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A Lady's Name is a screen version of a play written for the stage by Cyril Harcourt. His play was adapted for the screen by Julia Crawford Ivers.

Plot

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Novelist Mabel Vere (Constance Talmadge) is engaged to Gerald Wantage (Emory Johnson). Mabel is also writing a new book. She needs ideas for her new book. She hatches a plan where she will advertise for a husband and see if the candidates provide the literary inspiration she needs. Gerald is a "stuffed Shirt" who angrily objects to her plan. She proceeds anyway.

It is decided that Mabel's roommate, Maud Bray (Vera Doria), will screen all responders and frighten away the less desirable suitors. This allows Mabel to respond to the more interesting letters. Shortly Mabel becomes embroiled in a number of adventures.

One of her applicants is a butler. He is employed by Noel Corcoran (Harrison Ford). As it turns out, Noel has also answered the ad. Noel informs Mabel that Gerald has bet the other members of his club that she will stop answering letters.

Mabel is furious. She starts responding to several particularly lurid letters. Gerald promptly breaks off their engagement. Meanwhile, Noel, who is rich, has fallen in love with Mabel. Noel gets down on his knee and proposes. Mabel accepts his proposal.[3][4]

Cast

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Actor [4] Role
Constance Talmadge Mabel Vere
Harrison Ford Noel Corcoran
Emory Johnson Gerald Wantage
Vera Doria Maud Bray
Jim Farley Flood
Fred Huntley Adams
John Steppling Bird
Truman Van Dyke Bentley
Lillian Leighton Mrs. Haines
ZaSu Pitts Emily
Emily Gerdes Margaret

Preservation status

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According to the Library of Congress website, 4 out of 5 reels survive of this film.[5] The archived copy of this film is stored at New York's Museum of Modern Art.[6]

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References

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  1. ^ "A Lady's Name". catalog.afi.com.
  2. ^ "A Lady's Name". www.tcm.com.
  3. ^ "Emory Johnson Picture a Broadway success". Motion Pictures. Select Pictures. 1918. p. 1.
  4. ^ a b "A Lady's Name -Select". Motion Picture News. New York, Motion Picture News, Inc.
  5. ^ "A Lady's Name / Walter Edwards [motion picture]". Performing Arts Databases. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  6. ^ "MoMA". Archives Databases. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
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