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Her Soul’s Inspiration
(1917) United States of America
B&W : Five reels
Directed by Jack Conway
Cast: Ella Hall [Mary Weston], Marc Robbins (Marc B. Robbins) [Daddy Weston], Richard Ryan (Dick Ryan) [Philip Carstairs], Edward Hearn [Silent Bob], Marcia Moore [Zella], Margaret Whistler [Madame La Rue], Alice May Youse, Ray Whittaker (Raymond Whitaker)
Bluebird Photoplays, Incorporated, production; distributed by Bluebird Photoplays, Incorporated, through The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated. / Scenario by Maie Havey (Maie B. Havey), from the short story “Mary Keep Your Feet Still” by Harris Anson. Cinematography by Ed J. Kull (Edward A. Kull). / Released 15 January 1917. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Mary seemed to have been born with music in her feet. She danced to school, danced at her work and danced while at play. Her invalid mother, realizing her talents and knowing her ambition to become an expert dancer, made the father promise that Mary should have her heart’s desire. When the mother died Mary’s father sold the farm and purchased a traveling show to give Mary her chance to be a stage dancer. There was a Madame La Rue in the company, who had a daughter of about Mary’s age, and the two girls disagreed, with Mme. La Rue continually inspiring discord. Mary’s father is stricken at a time when Mary is on the stage giving her performance, Mme. La Rue has him removed to her own dressing room, and there the old man makes his dying statement to the scheming woman. He tells her where in his trunk he keeps his money; asks that his wealthy brother, in a distant town, be notified of his death, and that Mary be taken to her undo who will provide her from his abundance with a home. Mme. La Rue takes the money from the trunk, wires to Mary’s uncle that she is bringing Mary and the body of her father to him, and, deserting Mary, takes her own daughter instead. Mme. La Rue and her child are accordingly, established in luxury. When the authorities disband the juvenile opera company because the owner is dead and there is no one to carry on the show. Mary is taken in charge by a shrewish woman who makes a kitchen slave of the child. Mary bears oppression as long as she can, and then runs away to the town where her father is buried. Near the ocean shore she locates a cottage that offers shelter, even though the owner is not at home. Mary goes to sleep in the bed and awakes next morning to find that a kindly disposed young man, who makes his living fishing with his nets, owns the cottage and straightway offers a home and working partnership. Mary one day meets Phillip, a handsome young author, who is a visitor at the home of Mary’s uncle. Mme. La Rue has been trying to ensnare Phillip as a husband for her daughter, Zella, but Phillip is slow to advance. Mary and Phillip meet frequently on the beach, and Bob grows jealous of his rival. One day Mme. La Rue and Zella recognize Mary as she is conversing with Phillip, they also observe Bob’s jealous conduct. Going to Bob they tell him that Phillip is engaged to Zella and is only trifling with Mary. Bob in a rage assaults Phillip, and believes that the blow be strikes has killed the young author. Informing Mary of what he has done, the two friends agree that they had better leave the neighborhood and go at once to a distant town. In the years that follow Bob devotes himself to the task of realizing, for Mary, her ambition to become a great dancer. At a society function where Mary is the attraction, Phillip (who has only been stunned by Bob’s blow) sees the girl and recognizes his little friend from the fishing village. The renewal of acquaintance discloses Mary’s parentage, and the locket she wears proves that she should be occupying the place in her uncle’s home that Mme. La Rue had, by fraud, established for Zella. The outcome gives Mary her proper place and we are left to believe that she and Phillip will find their way to happiness.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 20 January 1917, page ?] The name of Harris Anson’s story on which this production is based is “Mary, Keep Tour Feet Still,” and in the interpretation of the character of Mary, a winsome little girl of sunny disposition and a desire to be the first dancer of the land, Ella Hall has done admirable work. On the other hand, the story which has acceptable screen possibilities might have been made more of in a dramatic way. There is at times an impression that it is not being worked to capacity. At the same time the interest is maintained throughout, and the production, while not one of the best Bluebirds, can hold its own before the average audience. The story tells of how a little girl, at the death of her mother, who has shared her ambitions to become a dancer, suddenly finds herself transported to the heaven of which she has dreamed when her father buys a traveling show and makes her the star of the company. The plot of the story develops through the jealous machinations of one Madame La Rue, whose daughter is also one of the dancers of the company. On the death of Mary’s father Madame La Rue takes possession of money and papers which the deceased has told her of before his death, writes to Mary’s rich uncle, stating that she is bringing Mary and the body of his brother to him, and substituting her own daughter for Mary, leaves the girl to work out her own salvation. The incidents following where Mary wanders off and becomes the companion of a fisherman, falls in love with a young author, and finally reaches by chance the home of her uncle, are moderately entertaining.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 23 October 2022.
References: Hirschhorn-Universal p. 27 : Website-IMDb.
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