The Price of Her Silence

“An automobile was sent off the city dock into the harbor, Wednesday morning at 4 o’clock, by the Thanhouser Film Corporation, in order to get a hairbreadth scene for a four-reel picture. In the machine at the time it went over were Leo Post and Otto Finn, the two daredevils of the studio. The machine landed flat in the water. Both the occupants jumped as soon as the auto left the dock and made land safely. Because of the cost of the scene, four cameramen were on the job clicking away. They were: Henry J. Zollinger [sic; this is a composite of the names of Henry Cronjager and William Zollinger; probably Zollinger was intended], Albert Moses, Carl Gregory and Lawrence Williams. The auto was a White make, and was taken from the water and put on a raft. The wind, however, swept the car from the resting place into the water. It is now lying at the bottom of the harbor near the city dock.”

“A weak-willed, flighty girl, who falls in love and then elopes with the family chauffeur; and her sister, a self-willed, strong-minded young woman, who assumes the stigma in following her sister’s false step, are the principal characters in The Price of Her Silence, a four part romantic drama, released as a Mutual Masterpicture. Those charming, talented young stars of the Thanhouser studios, Florence LaBadie and Mignon Anderson, who are recognized as two of the most popular young women in motion picture work, are the co-stars of The Price of Her Silence. Miss LaBadie portraying the strong-willed girl and Miss Anderson, her weaker sister.

“Miss LaBadie, well remembered for her work in God’s Witness, The Patriot and the Spy, and Monsieur Lecoq, preceding Mutual Masterpictures screened at the Thanhouser studios, rises to one of her greatest triumphs as the heroine in The Price of Her Silence, the role furnishing her with an exceptional opportunity of bringing into play the many dramatic and emotional talents with which she has been gifted.

“Miss Anderson, too, it may be said, scores one of her greatest successes in this exceptionally powerful romantic drama, some critics even aver that her portrayal of the weak sister in The Price of Her Silence, overshadows that she furnished in Milestones of Life, a Mutual Masterpicture released some weeks ago.

“An unusually powerful cast of Thanhouser players, including Arthur Bauer, as the father; Harris Gordon, as the chauffeur; and Thomas Curran, as the artist, appear in their support. The Price of Her Silence, as with the preceding Masterpictures screened at the Thanhouser studios, has been screened on a princely scale. One scene, depicting a wreck of a ship at sea, is the most realistic of its kind presented. The Price of Her Silence concerns a wealthy widower with two beautiful daughters, whose ages are separated by only a few years. One of them, the younger, the pampered pet of the father, falls in love with the family chauffeur. To break the infatuation the father sends her to Europe to study. But the girl, loving the chauffeur, acquaints him of the fact, with the result that he books passage on the same ship.

“Far out at sea, the ship is wrecked during a storm. The girl, the chauffeur and the captain manage to get away on a raft, the only ones of the number on board to be saved. A few minutes before the captain is washed from the raft, he marries the young girl and the chauffeur. The following day the raft with the half-famished young couple is washed ashore on a desert island. That night the husband is attacked and killed by a wild animal and the young widow is later taken on board a sailing vessel, and after a venturesome journey returned to her father, who believed her dead. Later she finds it necessary to confide her secret to someone. She confesses all to her elder sister, who induces her father to let them visit a country town where they remain until the baby is born. Later, after placing the baby to board with a farmer’s wife, they return home. Some few years later, the young sister is about to be wedded to a prominent young man, when her daughter, a handsome, golden-haired little child, unexpectedly arrives in care of the farmer, who announces that he refuses to permit the child to remain in his wife’s care until he learns the identity of the father. Allowed to speak, the elder sister took the blame, whereupon she and her little niece were turned adrift.

“Fearful at losing her husband’s love, the younger sister maintained silence while the elder one eked out living for herself and child in a nearby city. A young painter of considerable prominence occupied the adjoining studio and within a short time they fell in love with each other. Because of her clouded name, she refuses to marry him and wrote her sister begging her to confess all. One day, as a surprise, a picture painted by the young artist for the child’s mother was on exhibition at the studio. She called with her husband to view it. Suddenly the door opened and a little girl appeared in pursuit of her kitten. Reaching a window ledge she lost her balance and fell. The mother, in her anguish, ran to the yard, picked up the injured child and, returning to the studio, confessed all. All was quickly forgiven by the husband, when the wife explained the child’s parentage. The father, too, forgave and later the strong hearted elder sister married the young artist and all returned to live at the wealthy father’s estate....

“Mignon Anderson, who shares honors with Florence LaBadie in The Price of Her Silence, a four part Mutual Masterpicture screened at the Thanhouser studios, is Mrs. Morris Foster in private life. Her husband is one of the popular young leads of the Thanhouser studios. They frequently play together in pictures.... Florence LaBadie, who is starring with Mignon Anderson in The Price of Her Silence, a four-part Mutual Masterpicture screened at the Thanhouser studios in New Rochelle, is an exceptionally popular young woman. She undoubtedly boasts of a larger following than any other player in picture work. This is best attested by the great number of letters she receives daily from admiring fans in all sections of the two hemispheres. A large number of the communications are from young girls and young women, who are desirous of entering motion picture work. And, to be honest, a number of letters are forwarded her by would-be screen stars of the opposite sex. Of recent months, the demands on Miss LaBadie have become so large that she has had written and printed a circular letter, reciting her own experiences, the best methods for winning success and so on. One of these letters is forwarded to each of the writers with Miss LaBadie’s best wishes for their success....

“One of the most vividly realistic shipwrecks ever screened is shown in one of the scenes of The Price of Her Silence, a four part Mutual Masterpicture, screened at the Thanhouser studios.

“Florence LaBadie, co-star with Mignon Anderson in The Price of Her Silence, a four part Mutual Masterpicture, is one of the most conscientious young screen players in the profession. Before stepping before the camera, Miss LaBadie goes through what she terms a ‘final’ rehearsal, to be certain that she will be able to register the expression as she wishes it to be done.”