Volume II: Filmography

THE REFORMATION OF PETER AND PAUL

April 23, 1915 (Friday)

Length: 1 reel (997 feet)

Character: Comedy

Cast: Eldean Steuart (Betty), Dorothy Wallace (Bessie), Morris Foster (Peter), Arthur Ashley (Paul), Mignon Anderson (Betty, grown up), Miss Hurley (Bessie, grown up), Lorraine Huling

Notes: 1. This film was originally scheduled as a Princess release for April 9, 1915 and was so listed in many schedules and in a synopsis in Reel Life, issue of March 27, 1915. However, it was rescheduled as a regular Thanhouser release for April 23, 1915, at which time the actual release did occur. 2. Eldean Steuart was listed as "Eldine Stewart" in Reel Life, March 27, 1915.

SYNOPSIS, The Moving Picture World, April 10, 1915:

"When Betty and Bessie were children they were held up as models to the other youngsters. The tiny sisters played together so nicely. They never did anything wrong and always obeyed their parents. Their next door neighbor had two sons, Peter and Paul. They were what might be called 'regular children,' that is to say, they were very mischievous, and preferred getting their hands dirty to having them cleaned. They teased the 'model little girls' next door. But as the children grew older their dispositions changed. The boy stayed home and became more subdued, the girls went to college and learned a lot of things. When they finally returned home they were 'worthwhile girls,' while the boys - Well, they wore their hair long, preferred ill-fitting clothes, and their idea of a real good time was to sit and try to solve the Fourth Dimension. They never went to theatres or dances, etc. and had very few friends for this reason. It was a fortunate thing for them when Betty and Bessie returned from college. The girls were so attractive that even Peter and Paul noticed it. In their own peculiar way they began to realize that life was not all sorrow. The girls enjoyed their society immensely, probably because they were so different, and vigorously taught them to dance and enjoy autoing at 50 miles an hour. When the boys proposed marriage, it was different; but Peter and Paul reminded them that they had been 'regular fellows' when they were young, and gladly consented to try and be better and livelier men. So, Peter and Paul were placed on probation and when they 'made good' the girls they loved consented to make them happy for life."

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, March 27, 1915:

"Peter and Paul were 'regular boys' and they loved to tease the extremely proper little girls, Betty and Bessie, who lived next door. But as the children grew older their dispositions changed. The girls went away to college, which livened them up considerably, and the boys stayed at home and got into a rut. When Betty and Bessie returned to town, however, Peter and Paul could not help noticing that they were unusually attractive girls. So they began to 'chirk up' and to realize that life was not all sorrow. They got better fitting clothes and began to go out among the other young folk. The two college girls took them in hand, taught them how to dance, how to enjoy autoing at fifty miles an hour, and a few other up to date tricks. But when they proposed - as young men will - they were sternly put on probation. Only after they were thoroughly satisfied that Peter and Paul would retain the effects of their training, did the young women consent to make them happy for life."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, May 1, 1915:

"Two bad boys grow up to be priggish young men. Two girls grow up still full of mischief and determine to put more life into the boys. The idea is a good one and should have been carried out more strongly. The abrupt ending comes just as the story is becoming most interesting."

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