A Little Sister of Everybody

A Little Sister of Everybody
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Directed byRobert Thornby
Written byWilliam Addison Lathrop
Screenplay byCharles Sarver
Produced byAnderson-Brunton Photoplays[1]
StarringBessie Love
George Fisher
CinematographyFrank B. Good[1]
Production
company
Anderson-Brunton Company
Distributed byPathé Exchange
Release dates
  • June 30, 1918 (1918-06-30) (original release)
  • August 6, 1922 (1922-08-06) (re-release)
Running time
  • 5 reels[2] (original release)
  • 3 reels (re-release)
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

A Little Sister of Everybody, sometimes called A Little Sister to Everybody,[3] is a 1918 American silent comedy-drama[4] film directed by Robert Thornby and starring Bessie Love and George Fisher.[5] It was produced by Anderson-Brunton Company and distributed by Pathé.

The film is presumed lost.[6]

Plot

Hugh Travers, Jr. (Fisher) is left in charge of a large manufacturing business in Manhattan's Lower East Side through the death of his father, and is confronted by considerable unrest among the employees due to the socialist doctrines preached by Ivan Marask (Sarno). Disguising himself as a poor factory worker, he labors in his own mill and thus becomes interested in Nicholas Marinoff (Dowling), a socialist writer, and his niece Celeste Janvier (Love). Discharged for inciting the workers to violence, Marask determines to kill Travers. He tells Celeste of his intention and they both arrive at the Travers home at the same time. The young woman spoils his aim so the shot meant for Travers goes wild. Marask is astonished to discover that the man he knew as Hughes is Travers, and his astonishment is shared by Celeste. Travers tells them of his planned reforms for the employees and of his love for Celeste.[3][7]

Cast

Production

A Little Sister of Everybody was filmed at Paralta Studio in Los Angeles.[5]

Release and reception

The film received mixed reviews.[7][9]

Like many American films of the time, A Little Sister of Everybody was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors cut, in Reel 4, the intertitle "I'll kill his dog, Hugh Travers, as a warning".[10]

On its release, it was shown with the Toto (Armando Novello) comedy short The Furniture Movers.[5]

Re-release

In 1922, the film was edited down to 3 reels, and released as a "Pathé Playlet".[11]

References

  1. ^ a b Love, Bessie (1977). From Hollywood with Love: An Autobiography of Bessie Love. London: Elm Tree Books. p. 149. OCLC 734075937.
  2. ^ "Recent Motion Pictures Based on Standard or Current Books". The Library Journal. Vol. 43, no. 9. September 1918. p. 656.
  3. ^ a b "Bessie Love in 'A Little Sister to Everybody'". Exhibitors Herald. Vol. 7, no. 3. July 13, 1918. p. 27.
  4. ^ "A Little Sister of Everybody (1918)". American Film Institute.
  5. ^ a b c "'Little Sister' Heads Pathés". Dramatic Mirror of Motion Pictures and the Stage. Vol. 78, no. 2062. June 29, 1918. p. 919.
  6. ^ "A Little Sister Of Everybody / Robert T Thornby [motion picture]". Library of Congress.
  7. ^ a b "A Little Sister of Everybody". Variety. Vol. 60, no. 11. August 9, 1918. p. 33.
  8. ^ "A Little Sister of Everybody". The Moving Picture World. Vol. 37, no. 1. July 6, 1918. p. 114.
  9. ^ Various quotes from reviews:
    • "The Shadow Stage". Photoplay. Vol. 14, no. 4. September 1918. p. 102. clean and mildly thrilling
    • "Pathé". Motography. Vol. 20, no. 1. July 6, 1918. p. 10. almost universal appeal
    • "Pathé". Exhibitors Herald and Motography. Vol. 7, no. 15. Chicago. October 5, 1918. p. 41. Action slow. Too long drawn out.
    • "Pathé". Exhibitors Herald and Motography. Vol. 7, no. 17. Chicago. October 19, 1918. p. 39. Just a picture.
  10. ^ "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. Vol. 7, no. 4. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. July 20, 1918. p. 49.
  11. ^ "Second Series of Pathe Playlets Ready for Release Beginning May 14". Moving Picture World. April 22, 1922. p. 847.
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