The Bachelor’s Romance (1915)
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John Emerson | Lorraine Huling | George LeGuere
Rest of cast:
Robert Cain | Sybilla Pope | Maggie Fisher | Philip Hahn | Thomas McGrath | J. Findlay | Martha Morton (Play) | Daniel Frohman (Presenter)
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“The Bachelor’s Romance”
John Emerson, in four-part Famous Players subject, gives good interpretation of quaint character.
Reviewed by George Blaisdell.
It is an interesting interpretation John Emerson gives us in his portrayal of the young-old man whose mild adventures are depicted in The Bachelor’s Romance, the four-part subject released by the Famous Players on February 11. Mr. Emerson finely draws the character of David Holmes, the retiring, woman-fearing man, to whom marriage seems so far away. Chief in his support is Lorraine Huling as Sylvia, the ward of David. Miss Huling, who has been seen before in Famous Players pictures, has a pleasing personality. Maggie Fisher, as Aunt Clem, to whose care is intrusted by David the child so suddenly thrust into his quiet life, is one of the figures of the story. She finely typifies the housewife of the small community — strict in her ideals and as warm in her affection as her outward aspect is frigid.
There is nothing sensational in The Bachelor’s Romance. It is a story of a bachelor, a literary man, into whose heart slowly creeps the girl for whose upbringing he had declined the direct responsibility. For three reels the interest depends much on the character work of Mr. Emerson. The last part is where most of the action lies, and in this division of the story there is appeal as we see the guardian and the ward gradually but surely being brought to an understanding.
The opening of the story is of the office of David. We see him struggling to avoid the women callers. Then comes to his home the child of whom he is to be the guardian. The unnamed little player by her work arouses the interest and the sympathy of the onlooker. When Sylvia has grown up she has as a suitor a young man who is a competitor for a ten-thousand-dollar literary prize. David is the judge to whom has fallen the decision as to the winner. After David has determined that The Bachelor’s Romance is the best story, he learns by accident the identity of the author. Not knowing who is judging his play, the young man asks David if he may have the hand of Sylvia in the event of his winning. David, who already has been unsuccessful in surrendering his task, reluctantly consents. Then comes the inward struggle to decide according to his convictions and against the dictates of his heart. It is the young woman who with true feminine determination and skill brings about the situation where she rests in the arms of David. She is obliged to simulate a fall from a cliff to accomplish it, but the scheme works out just exactly as she had planned.
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Scene from The Bachelor’s Romance (Famous Players)
Collection: Moving Picture World, February 1915