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1916FalstaffOne reelComedy

Grace’s Gorgeous Gowns

Also released as Grace’s Glorious Gowns

No copy you can watch online. No print is known to survive. What follows is what does: the release, the cast, the story, and what the trade press said at the time.

The story

“Grace always has longed to possess all the beautiful gowns she could wear. An erratic aunt dies and leaves her her heart’s desire. The news comes while Grace is taking dictation from her employer. Leaving a farewell note, she takes her departure. The aunt had had a dress-making establishment, and Grace is overjoyed to find that she is in possession of money and gorgeous gowns. She hires a maid, engages a private car, and goes to Whirlpool Beach. Will Wilkins, a handsome lifeguard, makes Grace’s acquaintance. It is a case of love at first sight. The humble lifeguard, however, might never have proposed to an heiress had it not happened that a later will of the erratic aunt is discovered appointing Mathilde Jenks her heir. The vengeful woman arrives at Whirlpool Beach and strips Grace of all her glory. Left alone in the world with only a bathing suit, Grace suffers Will to take her hand. Then she tells him that he has won it forever.”

Summary from Reel Life · 15 January 1916

What the papers said

1 review

“An amusing comedy, in which a girl stenographer falls heir to her aunt’s millinery business. The girl, instead of selling the gowns, wears them at the beach, making a decided sensation. Then another will is found, leaving everything to another. This is quite original and pleasing.”

The Moving Picture World · 15 January 1916

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Cast and crew

Cast
Bert Delaney as Will Wilkins, a young lifeguard
Claude Cooper
Frances Keyes as Mathilde Jenks, an old maid
Louise Emerald Bates as Grace Galoon
Riley Chamberlin as lawyer
Writer
Lloyd F. Lonergan

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More about this film

Posters and media
Press for Grace’s Gorgeous Gowns. Advertisement from Reel Life.

From Volume II: Filmography of Q. David Bowers’ Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History, reproduced with permission and unchanged. Read the history of 1916 →

Cite as: Bowers, Q. David. Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History, “Grace’s Gorgeous Gowns”. thanhouser.org/films/grace-s-gorgeous-gowns/

Where a print is held

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No print known