Volume II: Filmography

LOVE AND MONEY

May 9, 1915 (Sunday)

Length: 1 reel (910 feet)

Character: Comedy-drama

Director: Carroll Fleming

Cast: Mrs. Charles Kraus (wealthy widow), Ruth Elder (Celia, her daughter), Charles Kraus (Count Nervi, the nobleman), James Cooley (American suitor), Justus D. Barnes (his father), Fred Probst (Apache gang leader), Riley Chamberlin

Notes: 1. The title was listed as For Love and Money in the title of a review in The Moving Picture World, May 22, 1915. 2. Filming of this production commenced Monday, March 1, 1915. Originally, it was planned to issue this as a multiple-reel feature.

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, May 1, 1915:

"A French nobleman of broken fortunes pays ardent court to a rich American widow, sojourning with her attractive daughter in Paris. He determines to win the widow's money, but plans to marry the daughter. Celia, however, has an American lover who, one day, arrives with his uncle, a wealthy rancher. The uncle is just as much in love with the widow as his nephew is with the daughter. The Frenchman plots to put through his own schemes. He tells the widow that he loves her for herself alone and begs that she transfer her wealth to her daughter, so that he may marry her without being thought a fortune hunter. Meanwhile, the widow has refused to let Celia marry the young American. Knowing this, the nobleman tells the girl that if she will consent to marry him secretly, she then may immediately divorce him, and, with the family fortune in her hands, wed the man of her choice. Both the widow and daughter agree to Count Nervi's suggestions. The money is put in the girl's name, and she and the Count are married. The ceremony is but scarcely over, when the nobleman tells Celia that, without her husband's consent, she is powerless to achieve her freedom, and that he has no idea of giving her up to another man. He exults in his cleverness in winning both the girl and her mother's money. At this point, 'the minister' who has performed the rites, snatches off his disguise, revealing himself as a young American. He and the girl had been married secretly the day before, and had conspired to bring failure and disgrace upon the nobleman. The widow weds a ranchman who is rich enough for them both. And Celia and the American keep their fortune."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, May 22, 1915:

"This story of an American widow and her daughter abroad contains two love episodes. The scheming count makes love to mother and daughter at the same time in order to make sure of the money, but his plans fail. The social atmosphere is only fairly well suggested; the reel is one of about average interest."

REVIEW, The New York Dramatic Mirror, May 12, 1915:

"Another way of approaching the given end, with an American daughter, an American wooer, a rich uncle, and a mother, while European wealth seekers are in the proposition, is the means of bridging a thousand feet of slight film comedy-drama. It occurs in a European hotel where, of course, the young American succeeds in getting the girl away from the much made-up and monetary suitors. The offering has the usual punch for this type of picture in the surprise ending. It is rather well put on."

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