A Girl of Yesterday
Encyclopedia
A Girl of Yesterday is a 1915
film produced by Adolph Zukor
's Famous Players company and released by Paramount Pictures
. It was directed by Allan Dwan
and starred Mary Pickford
. Pickford at last played a mature woman more or less her own age. The picture costarred Frances Marion
, soon to be a screenwriter and in a cameo as a pilot, real life aviation pioneer Glenn L. Martin. This film is today considered to be a lost
film. The movie portrays real-life brother and sister Mary and Jack Pickford as John and Jane Stuart, brother and sister. Glenn Martin reportedly refused to kiss Frances Marion during the production of the film due to his objections concerning his mother.
A synopsis of the film, as reported in an October 31, 1915 Paramount Pictures Corporation advertisement in the Columbus, Georgia Ledger-Enquirer:
"John and Jane Stuart have been bought up with strict old-fashioned conservatism by their Aunt Angela, so great has been the effect upon Jane that she does no even garb herself in modest gowns, but adheres to the styles long since abandoned by society. The aunt's extreme economy builds a false barrier between the Stuart children and the Monroe family, their next-door neighbors, with the exception of Stanley Hudson, who becomes a constant visitor at the Monroe home after he has caught a glimpse of Jane over the garden wall. The attraction proves mutual and the friendship ripens rapidly. Meanwhile John, Jane's brother, has found the life of Puritanical abstention irksome in the extreme, and has fallen in with a rather wild element whose chief pastime is gambling. Only the quick action of Jane enables him to escape the well-deserved wrath of his aunt.
A sudden turn in the tide of the Stuart's affairs comes when Jane inherits a huge fortune. The first effect is seen in John, who promptly sells out to live the sort of existence he has always craved. Jane, however, continues to live in the same old way, and to wear the same old clothes.
The sudden acquisition of wealth makes the Stuarts a great desideratum (desired party -ed) in those circles from which they had been previously barred. At a reception at the Monroe's, Jane appears in one of her old gowns the very simplicity of which, in sharp contrast to the gorgeous apparel of the other girls, makes her the belle of the evening. Later, in deference to John's wishes, she arrays herself in resplendent glory according to the latent edicts of Paris and emerges from the modiste's an exquisite vision of loveliness.
Stanley's social standing has captured the imagination of one of the season's debuntantes who declares war upon the unsuspecting Jane. Other wiles failing, the enamored one, finally bribes an aviator to take Jane into his aeroplane and lose her in order to prevent her from arriving at the boat landing to embark upon a criuse on which they have all been invited. On the first day out Stanley's attempt to propose to Jane is interrupted by the other girl who, later stages a little scene with Stanley that causes poor Jane untold anguish of heart.
But fate takes a turn for the better and John's wild speculatoins are changed from lesses to gains while Stanley suddenly spurred to action claims the prise which was his for the asking."
From an October 11, 1915 review of the film in the Portland Oregonian:
"Little Miss Mary, with her wobbly curls, piquant face and winning ways, drew capacity audiences all yesterday at the Peoples Theater in 'A girl of Yesterday'. In this Frohman production Mary Pickford is supported by her clever brother, Jack Pickford. The film is the initial screen appearance of Glenn Martin, the aviator.
As Jane Stuart, whose poverty keeps her from vogish apparel, 'Little Mary' becomes loved both by members of the smart set and by Stanley Hudson (Marshall Neilan). The intrigue of rivals causes Jane to be taken up in an aeroplane and left unchaperoned ten miles from the party.
A pathetic scene occurs when, on her return, her plutocratic hostess asks her to leave. Her brother, disappointed in his love affair, attempts suicide and is rescued by Jane. Deciding they are out of place, the brother and sister return home. Stanley, however, remains true and so does Jack's sweetheart, so the ending is happy."
1915 in film
The year 1915 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 8 : D.W Griffith's The Birth of a Nation premieres at Clune's Auditorium Los Angeles and breaks box office and film length records, running at a total length of 3 hrs 10 minutes.* June 18 : The Motion Picture Directors...
film produced by Adolph Zukor
Adolph Zukor
Adolph Zukor , born Adolph Cukor, was a film mogul and founder of Paramount Pictures.-Early life:...
's Famous Players company and released by Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
. It was directed by Allan Dwan
Allan Dwan
Allan Dwan was a pioneering Canadian-born American motion picture director, producer and screenwriter.-Early life:...
and starred Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
. Pickford at last played a mature woman more or less her own age. The picture costarred Frances Marion
Frances Marion
Frances Marion was an American journalist, author, and screenwriter often cited as the most renowned female screenwriter of the twentieth century alongside June Mathis and Anita Loos.-Career:...
, soon to be a screenwriter and in a cameo as a pilot, real life aviation pioneer Glenn L. Martin. This film is today considered to be a lost
Lost film
A lost film is a feature film or short film that is no longer known to exist in studio archives, private collections or public archives such as the Library of Congress, where at least one copy of all American films are deposited and catalogued for copyright reasons...
film. The movie portrays real-life brother and sister Mary and Jack Pickford as John and Jane Stuart, brother and sister. Glenn Martin reportedly refused to kiss Frances Marion during the production of the film due to his objections concerning his mother.
A synopsis of the film, as reported in an October 31, 1915 Paramount Pictures Corporation advertisement in the Columbus, Georgia Ledger-Enquirer:
"John and Jane Stuart have been bought up with strict old-fashioned conservatism by their Aunt Angela, so great has been the effect upon Jane that she does no even garb herself in modest gowns, but adheres to the styles long since abandoned by society. The aunt's extreme economy builds a false barrier between the Stuart children and the Monroe family, their next-door neighbors, with the exception of Stanley Hudson, who becomes a constant visitor at the Monroe home after he has caught a glimpse of Jane over the garden wall. The attraction proves mutual and the friendship ripens rapidly. Meanwhile John, Jane's brother, has found the life of Puritanical abstention irksome in the extreme, and has fallen in with a rather wild element whose chief pastime is gambling. Only the quick action of Jane enables him to escape the well-deserved wrath of his aunt.
A sudden turn in the tide of the Stuart's affairs comes when Jane inherits a huge fortune. The first effect is seen in John, who promptly sells out to live the sort of existence he has always craved. Jane, however, continues to live in the same old way, and to wear the same old clothes.
The sudden acquisition of wealth makes the Stuarts a great desideratum (desired party -ed) in those circles from which they had been previously barred. At a reception at the Monroe's, Jane appears in one of her old gowns the very simplicity of which, in sharp contrast to the gorgeous apparel of the other girls, makes her the belle of the evening. Later, in deference to John's wishes, she arrays herself in resplendent glory according to the latent edicts of Paris and emerges from the modiste's an exquisite vision of loveliness.
Stanley's social standing has captured the imagination of one of the season's debuntantes who declares war upon the unsuspecting Jane. Other wiles failing, the enamored one, finally bribes an aviator to take Jane into his aeroplane and lose her in order to prevent her from arriving at the boat landing to embark upon a criuse on which they have all been invited. On the first day out Stanley's attempt to propose to Jane is interrupted by the other girl who, later stages a little scene with Stanley that causes poor Jane untold anguish of heart.
But fate takes a turn for the better and John's wild speculatoins are changed from lesses to gains while Stanley suddenly spurred to action claims the prise which was his for the asking."
From an October 11, 1915 review of the film in the Portland Oregonian:
"Little Miss Mary, with her wobbly curls, piquant face and winning ways, drew capacity audiences all yesterday at the Peoples Theater in 'A girl of Yesterday'. In this Frohman production Mary Pickford is supported by her clever brother, Jack Pickford. The film is the initial screen appearance of Glenn Martin, the aviator.
As Jane Stuart, whose poverty keeps her from vogish apparel, 'Little Mary' becomes loved both by members of the smart set and by Stanley Hudson (Marshall Neilan). The intrigue of rivals causes Jane to be taken up in an aeroplane and left unchaperoned ten miles from the party.
A pathetic scene occurs when, on her return, her plutocratic hostess asks her to leave. Her brother, disappointed in his love affair, attempts suicide and is rescued by Jane. Deciding they are out of place, the brother and sister return home. Stanley, however, remains true and so does Jack's sweetheart, so the ending is happy."
Cast
- Mary PickfordMary PickfordMary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
- Jane Stuart - Jack PickfordJack PickfordJack Pickford was a Canadian-born American actor. He was best known for his tabloid lifestyle, marriage to the top starlets of his day, and being of the famous Pickford acting family.-Early life:...
- John Stuart - Gertrude Norman - Aunt Angela
- Donald CrispDonald CrispDonald Crisp was an English film actor. He was also an early motion picture producer, director and screenwriter...
- A.H. Monroe - Marshall NeilanMarshall NeilanMarshall Ambrose Neilan was an American motion picture actor, screenwriter, film director, and producer.-Early life:...
- Stanley Hudson - Frances MarionFrances MarionFrances Marion was an American journalist, author, and screenwriter often cited as the most renowned female screenwriter of the twentieth century alongside June Mathis and Anita Loos.-Career:...
- Rosanna Danford - Lillian Langdon - Mrs. A.H. Monroe
- Claire Alexander - Eloise Monroe
- Glenn L. Martin - Pilot