A Daughter of the Old South (1918) Famous Players-Lasky Corp. Distributor: Famous Players-Lasky Corp; Paramount Pictures. Presenter: Adolph Zukor. Director: Emile Chautard. Scenario: Margaret Turnbull. Story: Alicia Ramsay and Rudolph de Cordova. Camera: Jacques Bizeul. Cast: Pauline Frederick, Pedro De Cordoba, Vera Beresford, Rex MacDougall, Mrs. T. Randolph, Myra Brooks, J.P. Laffey. 5 reels. This film appears to be LOST
There seems to be some disagreement among the reviewers as to the exact title of this film.
| Still Photo |
 |
| Dolores | Pauline Frederick |
| Pedro | Pedro de Cordoba |
| Daughter | Vera Beresford |
| Grandmother | Mrs. T. Randolph |
| Ferris | Rex McDougall |
| Housekeeper | Myra Brooks |
| Father | J.P. Laffey |
The southern atmosphere is well sustained in this five-reel Paramount feature, which gives Pauline Frederick an excellent opportunity for displaying her ability as an emotional star. Her jilted Creole girl is clean-cut and convincing.
A great deal of Miss Frederick's best work is done in close-ups with the varying facial expressions showing the real artist. Rex McDougall is opposite the star. While the latter plays well enough, he hardly appeared to be the right type for a novelist and writer of flimsy and up-to-date poems. The other members have little to do, but they add to the general finish of the picture.
The story, while it does not keep one guessing, is well told and never lags. Rex McDougall makes a decided hit in the last two reels, where his perfidy has been discovered by his southern sweetheart and he believes she has given him poison. Mad with fear, he staggers about the room and sinks in terror at Dolores' feet, begging her to save him. She agrees to do so on condition he marry her. This he promises. It is a fine bit of dramatic work, handled in a masterly manner.
There are numerous interesting close-ups, a number of artistic long shots and rich interiors, with pleasing lighting effects.
"A DAUGHTER OF THE OLD SOUTH"
A Paramount Release Presenting Pauline Frederick in the Title Role
Reviewed by Louis Reeves Harrison.
The only values of importance discernible in this picture aside from those provided by the director are conferred by three women in the cast. Pauline Frederick, as a creole girl, Mrs. T. Randolph as the grandmother and Myra Brooks as the housekeeper. These three admirable types an the skilled directing of Monsieur Chautard come near making an interesting story out of one which was not very strong in the first place and was terribly enfeebled by the "continuity writer." The creole girl is a romantic creature engaged to a wealthy young Spaniard. She decides to marry a man of her own choice, selects one she knows nothing about and picks him up in the street, making a secret appointment with him, goes to an old house he has rented and throws herself at him amorously on all occasions. The man acts like a cad, but he is announced to be a novelist in search of sensations. He throws the girl aside when the one to whom he was formerly engaged comes along.
The creole girl prepares an elaborate revenge. She induces the novelist's fiance, a perfect stranger, to play eavesdropper. The creole girl invites the novelist to drink with her, and, when he has done so, she announces that she poisoned his wine. He sinks on his knees and begs her to save him. The creole then releases the eavesdropping fiance and points the novelist as a coward. He has not been poisoned at all. Both girls turn their backs on the craven, and the creole goes to throw herself in the lake. She is prevented by the young Spaniard, who arrives opportunely, and she will probably marry him someday. Comment is hardly necessary. M. Chautard and the three women of the old Southern family provide romantic settings and atmosphere for a story that aims at nothing of interest and gets nowhere in particular.
"A DAUGHTER OF THE OLD SOUTH."
Adolph Zukor Presents Pauline Frederick in a Story of a Proud Daughter of an Old Creole Family.
| Dolores, a Creole | Pauline Frederick |
| Pedro, a Rich Spaniard | Pedro De Cordoba |
| Daughter | Vera Beresford |
| Grandmother | Mrs. T. Randolph |
| Ferris | Rex McDougall |
| Housekeeper | Myra Brooks |
| Father | J.P. Laffey |
The Story: Dolores Jardine, the young daughter of an ancient Creole family, is betrothed to Pedro de Alvarez, a wealth Spaniard. She resents the idea of her summary betrothal and fixes her affections upon Dick Ferris, a young novelist, who returns her interest. But Dick meets an old flame and turns once more to her. Dolores invites him and his fiance to dine and tells him that she has poisoned his wine. In an ecstasy of terror, Dick implores him to save her and she promises to give him an antidote on condition that he marry her. He makes the promise, when Dolores tells him that the poison was water. She merely wanted to disgrace him. His fiancee turns from him and Dolores at last yields to Pedro's protestations of love.
Feature: Pauline Frederick as Dolores and Pedro De Cordoba as Pedro.
Program and Advertising Phrases: Pauline Frederick Star in Delightful Story of Love in the Old South.
How a False Villain Wooed and Nearly Won Rare Beauty.
How a Daughter of the Confederacy Won a Northern Victory.
How a Pretty Girl Rebelled at Her Grandmother's Choice.
Advertising Angles: In the north it will be necessary that a Creole is not of negro blood, but one of the descendants of the old French families who originally populated Louisiana, preserving the fine old strain of blood. Then go on to tell how this nature asserted itself in Dolores. Make it very plain that this is in no sense another of those civil war stories, of which there have been far too many.
Advertising Aids: Two each one, three and six-sheets. One 24-sheet. Lobby displays, Photos 8x10, 11x14, 22x28. Cuts from one to three columns on star and production. Advertising layout mats. Slides. Press book.
Released November 24.
"A DAUGHTER OF THE SOUTH"--Paramount
This may have been a play for somebody, but it was no play to give Pauline Frederick. It's all about a Creole girl who neglects her true Spanish lover that she may listen to the advances of a fickle "novelist. Why scenario writers make authors so loving must remain a mystery--to authors. As a rule your romantic author is about as noble an exponent of his own goods as a shoemaker. There are exceptions, just as an occasional shoemaker is found to possess a neat set of hoofs. But to our subject: as Dolores, an ivory virgin, Miss Frederick tries hard not to appear sophisticated, but the role demands, not a matured young woman, but an immature ingenue. This Miss Frederick decidedly will not be until Ponce de Leon finds his fountain. Pedro de Cordoba, who always suffers so in love, give similitude to Pedro, the devoted Don, and Rex McDougall, who looks about as romantic as Rex Beach, delineates the novelist of alternating devotions. Miss Vera Beresford, the very girlish daughter of statuesque Kitty Gordon, plays the finally-selected lovee of the novelist lover.
Last revised, October 2, 2010