Volume II: Filmography

IT HAPPENED TO ADELE

Working title: ROMANCE AND RUBBERS

(Pathé Exchange)

July 15, 1917 (Sunday)

Length: 5 reels

Character: Drama; Pathé Gold Rooster Play

Director: Van Dyke Brooke

Scenario: Agnes Christine Johnston

Cast: Gladys Leslie (Adele), Carey L. Hastings (Adele's mother), Peggy Burke (Blanche), Charles Emerson (Vincent Harvey), Clarine Seymour (Mary), Wayne Arey (John W. Horton), Justus D. Barnes (Vincent's uncle)

Note: A synopsis published in The Moving Picture World, July 21, 1917, gave the release date of this film incorrectly as July 13, 1917.

ARTICLE, The Moving Picture World, June 16, 1917:

"The picture relates the moving ups and downs of an aspirant for stage honors, and is human and cheery all through."

ARTICLE, Exhibitors Herald, July 21, 1917:

"Edwin Thanhouser says It Happened to Adele, his Pathé-Gold Rooster play, which stars Gladys Leslie, is a new sort of story on the stage. He states: 'It is the story of a chorus girl but - There are no stage door Johnnies who hunt innocent little girls. There are no unscrupulous managers who offer stardom at the price of - The heroine hasn't a single chance to say 'I would rather be virtuous than rich,' or - 'I'd rather be unknown in the chorus than notorious in the electric lights'. There isn't even a vampire stage woman who tries to show the heroine the easiest way. Certainly,' Mr. Thanhouser admits, 'this is not a play for aspiring dramatists to see.'"

SYNOPSIS, The Moving Picture World, July 21, 1917:

"Adele was a child of romance. Even in the sordid tenement she felt a desire to go on stage. Accidentally, Adele and her mother met Blanche, who had been on the stage with Adele's mother, and it was through her that Adele received her first chance. Then she met Vincent Harvey, an embryonic opera composer who found inspiration in her and she in turn found romance. Adele was practicing kicking one morning very energetically. So much so that she kicked her slipper out of the window and it hit John W. Horton, a broker. Looking around he became horrified. Adele had climbed out onto the fire escape, became dizzy and fell. An awning broke her fall. Blanche was the first one to her side. Learning that she was not hurt, Blanche made her lie still, while she turned to the crowd and told them that Adele was a poor chorus girl who tried to commit suicide. It wasn't long before Adele sprang into fame, as the incident brought her plenty of publicity and Horton told her that if she ever needed a friend to call on him.

"Vincent completed his opera and at his request Adele took it to Horton and asked him to produce it. He gladly consented and it turned out to be a really good opera, for Vincent threw himself into it heart and soul. He forgot everything, even Adele. Mary, Vincent's uncle's adopted daughter, came to see Adele and asked her to give up Vincent as he belonged to her, and whoever married him would have to be content with his disposition as he loved no one except his music and himself. Adele did not believe this until she found him wanting. Accidentally a fire started; Vincent remembered his opera was on Adele's table. Rushing in he paid no heed to her but snatched up his music. Horton, who decided to take a trip to the pole, was about to leave when suddenly Blanche, unknown to Adele, came and asked him not to go. Returning, he found the house in flames."

Note: The synopsis as published in The Moving Picture World is seemingly incomplete.

REVIEW by Charles E. Wagner, Exhibitor's Trade Review, July 7, 1917:

"The star personality of the star overcomes the unappealing and rather commonplace plot and makes It Happened to Adele at least an average program feature. It seems to me a picture of accidents. Adele accidentally meets Blanche, an old chum of her mother's who promises to help her to stardom. She accidentally lands in Harvey's room. He in turn accidentally steps on her foot, thereby revealing her hiding place under the couch. She accidentally hits Horton on the head with a shoe, and so on. One or two accidental happenings might be used in a story without becoming noticeable, but when stress is laid on this fact the audience of average intelligence cannot fail to perceive it. The fact that Adele, a member of the chorus, should rush out upon the stage and take the encore and inform the manager that if he loses his leading lady she will take her place doesn't ring quite true, as it is hardly believable that a manager would stand for such strange actions.

"There is a fair amount of pathos and through the entire production there runs a number of humorous situations that add greatly to its entertaining value. The photography is of the usual Thanhouser standard. While It Happened to Adele does not reach that element of perfection found in previous Agnes Johnston successes, there still exists enough interest and entertainment to make it appreciated by the average motion-picture-going public.

"Balance of the program: A light one-reel comedy and a split-reel educational and cartoon comedy would be a good selection for rounding out the program. Musical suggestion: At the beginning of the picture where the scenes are laid in the poorer section of the city, a sentimental ballad could be played. During the dance in the field and then as a number of the ballet, music of the allegro movement could be used. From then on until the death scene, at which time use lamentoso, pick up the theme as used in the very first part."

REVIEW by Aileen St. John-Brenon, The Morning Telegraph, July 1, 1917:

"The stage has become a familiar topic with moving picture producers during the past week or so, no less than three companies producing stories with a ballet girl as the heroine. In the new Pathé picture, It Happened to Adele, Gladys Leslie plays the part of a young girl who wins her way to name and fame, not only because she is pretty and graceful, but because she has a clever young friend who is an ardent believer in publicity. The picture is well directed and contains some welcome touches of humor. The arrival of the 'sob sisters' for an interview with the supposedly invalided little chorus girl and Adele's reasons to the applause that was intended for the leading lady are most amusing. There is also a well drawn character of an erratic and self-centered young musician. He captures the affections of the little actress, but she soon discovers her mistake when confronted by his ill-humor and tempestuous rages and marries the man who has flooded her with delicate and thoughtful attentions ever since he met her. But had it not been for the faithful friend Adele would have let him slip out of her life forever. There is a realistic fire, in which the musician rescues his manuscript instead of his sweetheart, and some pretty views of the country. Gladys Leslie gives an unaffected and straightforward performance and is supported by a good cast, notable among them being Charlie Emerson, Wayne Arey, and Peggy Burke."

REVIEW by Edward Weitzel, The Moving Picture World, July 14, 1917:

"The things that happened to the heroine in It Happened to Adele prove that life gets most curiously mixed up for some people. This five-reel photoplay was produced by Thanhouser and written by Agnes C. Johnston. It has touches of the author's gift for unconventional and amusing situations, but few of them appear to have any real connection with each other. Adele is a pretty young orphan who starts to earn her own living as a chorus lady and utilizes an accidental fall from the window to get her name in the papers. She is in love with the young man who is composed an opera and helps him to get his work produced. It is a great success and Adele is more in love with the composer than ever. She is cured when a fire breaks out and the young man saves his beloved opera and leaves her to perish. She is saved by a more discerning young fellow and has the good sense to marry him. Miss Johnston has written much better scenarios. Gladys Leslie makes Adele attractive and is consistent to the lines laid down for her. Carey Hastings, Peggy Burke, Charlie Emerson, Clarine Seymour, and Wayne Arey support the star effectively, and Van Dyke Brooke has directed the production with excellent judgment."

REVIEW, The New York Dramatic Mirror, July 7, 1917: This review is reprinted in the narrative section of the present work.

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