Volume II: Filmography

GLORIANNA'S GETAWAY

(Falstaff)

August 23, 1915 (Monday)

Length: 1 reel (996 feet)

Character: Comedy

Scenario: Lloyd F. Lonergan

Cast: Peggy Burke (Flower MacDiarmid, the actress), Boyd Marshall (Gareth Thomas, her fiancé), Hattie Williams (Glorianna, a black lady, her maid)

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, August 21, 1915:

"Glorianna envies her actress mistress her happy, care-free life. One evening the colored maid is instructed by Miss MacDiarmid to explain to Gareth Thomas, the actress's fiancé when he calls to take her to a fancy dress ball, that Miss MacDiarmid has been called to rehearsal at the last minute and will be unable to keep the engagement. Glorianna, after her mistress leaves, cannot resist trying on Flower's gorgeous fancy costume. When Thomas comes, the colored maid hastily ties on the mask and, whitening her forehead with canvas shoe paint, presents herself in the place of her mistress. Thomas is mystified to find the vivacious Flower MacDiarmid suddenly so silent. However, they go to the ball. As they whiz down the street in a taxi-cab, the actress, returning unexpectedly from the theatre, sees Thomas with a strange woman. She hurries to the ball, meaning to humiliate him. In the dimly lit conservatory Thomas is discovered, murmuring his attentions in the ear of her unknown rival. Flower snatches off the woman's mask, revealing the whitened forehead and frightened face of Glorianna. The tragedy is turned into laughter. Glorianna escapes. When the actress reaches her apartment, she finds a note, reading: 'I quit my job before you fire me. But I sure did have one grand, good time.'"

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, August 28, 1915:

"There is nothing especially new about the theme of this picture, but it is amusing. The colored maid taking advantage of her mistress' message to the effect that she will be unable to accompany her sweetheart to a masked ball that evening, dresses the part and deceives the young man. The revelation and Glorianna's getaway are distinctly funny."

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