Enlighten Thy Daughter (1917 film)
Encyclopedia
Enlighten Thy Daughter is a 1917
silent film
directed by Ivan Abramson
.
The exploitation film
/sexual hygiene film warns against the dangers of premarital sex
. Lillian Stevens (played by Zena Keefe
) is young woman who ends up having sex with Harold Winthrop (played by James W. Morrison
) after both are caught in an unexpected storm during a date. Of course, she gets pregnant. Mom doesn't realize Lillian has been out all night due to her gambling addiction. The same young man later starts dating Lillian's cousin Ruth (played by Rubye De Remer
). They get engaged, but Lillian's pregnancy--and the identity of the father--is revealed when she dies from an illegal abortion, and Ruth breaks off the engagement.
The New York Times
was critical of the film, calling it an "inept and melodramatic variant of the theme of the danger that lurks in the failure to apprise the young of dangers by which they are beset." Other reviews were not as unkind, however, calling it a "remarkable drama, tense and thrilling," and agreeing with the movie's advertising claim to be "the most tremendous moral force the screen has ever known."
The movie did meet with box office success, and has been described as director Abramson's biggest success.
A remake was released in 1934 (the only Abramson film ever remade).
1917 in film
The year 1917 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*Foundation of Universum Film AG , as a propaganda film company, in Berlin.*Technicolor System 1, a two-color process, is introduced...
silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
directed by Ivan Abramson
Ivan Abramson
Ivan Abramson was a director of American silent films active in the 1910s and 1920s.Abramson emigrated to the United States from Russia in the 1880s and soon became involved in Jewish newspaper field. In 1905 he founded an opera company. In 1914, he founded Ivan Film Productions to produce...
.
The exploitation film
Exploitation film
Exploitation film is a type of film that is promoted by "exploiting" often lurid subject matter. The term "exploitation" is common in film marketing, used for all types of films to mean promotion or advertising. These films then need something to exploit, such as a big star, special effects, sex,...
/sexual hygiene film warns against the dangers of premarital sex
Premarital sex
Premarital sex is sexual activity, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex, practiced by persons who are unmarried. Although it has always been practiced, in the West it has increased in prevalence since the mid-1950s...
. Lillian Stevens (played by Zena Keefe
Zena Keefe
Zena Virginia Keefe was an American actress in silent film, active in the 1910s and 1920s.Her film debut in short films occurred around 1911. By 1916, she was playing a substantial role in films including Her Maternal Right, and leading roles in films like Enlighten Thy Daughter...
) is young woman who ends up having sex with Harold Winthrop (played by James W. Morrison
James W. Morrison
James W. Morrison , was an American actor. He appeared in 187 films between 1911 and 1927.He was born in Mattoon, Illinois, USA and died in New York, New York.-External links:...
) after both are caught in an unexpected storm during a date. Of course, she gets pregnant. Mom doesn't realize Lillian has been out all night due to her gambling addiction. The same young man later starts dating Lillian's cousin Ruth (played by Rubye De Remer
Rubye De Remer
Rubye De Remer was an American dancer and actress in silent films....
). They get engaged, but Lillian's pregnancy--and the identity of the father--is revealed when she dies from an illegal abortion, and Ruth breaks off the engagement.
The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
was critical of the film, calling it an "inept and melodramatic variant of the theme of the danger that lurks in the failure to apprise the young of dangers by which they are beset." Other reviews were not as unkind, however, calling it a "remarkable drama, tense and thrilling," and agreeing with the movie's advertising claim to be "the most tremendous moral force the screen has ever known."
The movie did meet with box office success, and has been described as director Abramson's biggest success.
A remake was released in 1934 (the only Abramson film ever remade).