Released 9/28/18 by Universal/Bluebird Photoplays; Director: Allan Holubar; Screenplay: Allan Holubar, from the story Discipline of Ginevra by Harold Vickers; 5 reels
CAST: Dorothy Phillips (Genevra French), William Stowell (Laurence Tabor), Lon Chaney (Jack Lanchome), George Fawcett (Major French), Clarissa Selwyn (Aunt Harriet), Gloria Joy (Genevra as a Girl), Una Fleming (Dancer), Charles Mailes, ZaSu Pitts, Mrs. Griffith, William Burgess, William H. Bainbridge, George Lewis
SYNOPSIS: Major French governs his daughter Genevra with the strictest of discipline, and he constantly shelters her from the outside world. She gradually comes to realize that she has missed something out of life, and she plans to escape from her father's iron rule. She buys a book titled How to Attract the Opposite Sex and uses this as a guide to her worldly adventures. She selects Lawrence Tabor, a confirmed bachelor, as the object of her experiment, and pursues him until he agrees to marry her. Her father approves of the marriage since Tabor comes from a good family, but as they start on their honeymoon, Genevra tells Lawrence that she does not love him and that she only married him to escape from her father. He is heartbroken, but continues with the unhappy marriage. Genevra meets Jack Lanchome, an idle playboy, who invites her out for a private supper. He locks the door of their room and assaults her, and Tabor arrives just in time to save her. Genevra is badly shaken by the experience, realizes her true love for her husband, and promises to settle down. The next day, Lanchome arrives in Tabor's office, and Lawrence writes him a check, as the entire scene has been framed to bring Genevra to her senses. Lanchome refuses the check, saying it is the first worthwhile thing he has ever done in his life. Furthermore, he has enlisted in the army and is going off to fight for France.
"There is a strong vein of humor through the whole picture, otherwise it would be hopelessly uninteresting...The photography is sharp and clear and the settings are in keeping with the story." ---Variety
NOTES: This bit of fluff is an excellent example of why Chaney chose to leave Universal. Released after he had already left the studio, advertising notes to exhibitors recommended playing up Dorothy Phillips, and to stress the light-hearted nature of the film. Motion Picture News gave the following advice: "People like happy pictures these days, especially productions in which there is interest with the happiness. A good line to use in your advertising is: It is a happy picture.
© 1997,2008 Jon C. Mirsalis
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