Face Value (1918 film)

Face Value is a 1918 American silent drama film starring Mae Murray and directed by Robert Z. Leonard. It was released by Universal Film and produced by their second tier production unit Bluebird.[1][2]

Face Value
Directed byRobert Z. Leonard
Written byMae Murray (story)
Robert Z. Leonard
Fred Myton (scenario)
Produced byBluebird Photoplays
StarringMae Murray
CinematographyAlfred Gosden
Distributed byUniversal Film Manufacturing Company
Release date
  • January 19, 1918 (1918-01-19)
Running time
5 reels
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

This film survives with a copy in the George Eastman House Motion Picture Collection.[3]

Plot

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As described in a film magazine,[4] Joan (Murray), a waif that was adopted by the keeper of a boarding house, runs away and becomes a cashier at a Childs Restaurant,[5] but quits when the manager attempts to make love to her. She meets Louie (Ferguson), with whom she was once friendly, and he forces her to steal for him. She is caught and sentenced to a state reformatory. En route she escapes from the train by jumping into a stream and swims ashore, where she is picked up by Bertram (Oakman), the son of wealthy parents. He takes her home and she is permitted to stay there. Louie tries several times to get Joan under his power, but fails. Bertram marries Joan despite her past.

Cast

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  • Mae Murray as Joan Darby
  • Clarissa Selwynne as Mrs. Van Twiller
  • Florence Carpenter as Margaret Van Twiller
  • Wheeler Oakman as Bertram Van Twiller
  • Casson Ferguson as Louis Maguire
  • Mrs. Griffith as Mrs. Kelly

Reception

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Like many American films of the time, Face Value was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors required a cut of the young woman coming from behind the post and fainting in a man's arms and the man stealing a pocketbook.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Progressive Silent Film List: Face Value at silentera.com
  2. ^ The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: Face Value
  3. ^ The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Face Value
  4. ^ "Reviews: Face Value". Exhibitors Herald. 6 (4). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 27. January 19, 1918.
  5. ^ "Later, she tames her hair, and gets a job in Child's restaurant as cashier" - The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California 07 Jan 1918, Mon • Page 14
  6. ^ "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. 6 (5): 33. January 26, 1918.
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