Cheerful Givers
1917 silent film by Paul Powell
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Cheerful Givers is a 1917 American silent comedy-drama film produced by the Fine Arts Film Company and distributed by Triangle Film Corporation.[1] The film stars Bessie Love and Kenneth Harlan.[5]
| Cheerful Givers | |
|---|---|
Newspaper advertisement | |
| Directed by | Paul Powell |
| Written by | Mary H. O'Connor[1] |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | John W. Leezer[2] |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Triangle Film Corporation |
Release date |
|
Running time | 5 reels[4] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
The film is presumed lost.
Plot
To save her father's orphanage, Judy (Love) answers a request to have the "eldest boy" work in the kitchen of a wealthy, miserly woman. Disguising herself as a boy, she encounters the woman's son, Horace (Harlan), whom she mistrusts. Horace realizes Judy is actually a girl and falls in love with her. Judy ultimately thwarts his plan to steal from his mother's safe. The son repents, and Judy reciprocates his feelings.[3][6][7][8][9]
Cast
- Bessie Love as Judy
- Kenneth Harlan as Horace Gray
- Josephine Crowell as Mrs. Harriet Gray
- Spottiswoode Aitken as Reverend John Deady
- Bessie Buskirk as Lizzie Vance
- Pauline Starke as Abigail Deady
- Winifred Westover as Estella
- Loyola O'Connor as Mrs. Parker
- William H. Brown as Bob, Factotum of Orphanage
- Violet Radcliffe as Orphan
- Beulah Burns as Orphan
- George Stone as Orphan
- 'Baby' Carmen De Rue as Orphan
- Francis Carpenter as Orphan
- Ninon Fovieri as Orphan
- Lloyd Perl as Orphan
- Violet Wilkey as Oldest Orphan Girl (uncredited)[3][6]
Reception
The film received generally positive reviews, being described as an "adroit comedy" and "perfectly done".[10] It was noted for its broad appeal.[11][12][13][14] However, some reviewers found the pacing too slow.[15]
Bessie Love's performance was generally praised,[16] although it was noted that she had not yet become a major box office draw nationwide.[17][18]
