Volume II: Filmography

FOXY GRANDMA

June 23, 1911 (Friday)

Length: 1,000 feet

Character: Drama (per Thanhouser); comedy (per reviewers)

ADVERTISEMENT, The Moving Picture World, June 17, 1911:

"Surely one of the foxiest propositions that ever figured in the moving picture world, and you'll laugh with her at the right smart way she did business with a 'businessman.' But the 'businessman' was of the bunco brand and the game he tried to play on granny's granddaughter was a con one. Grandma, however, spoiled it for him. She pitted her own wits against the businessman's and won by a mile."

SYNOPSIS, The Moving Picture World, June 17, 1911:

"To all outward appearances she was simply a quiet old country woman, but looks are deceiving. Actually she was well to do, but resided in the country from choice. And the only person she deeply loved was her granddaughter, who made her home with her. The girl went to the city to meet some snobbish relations. The latter decided to do her a good turn, especially as it would not cost them a cent. They arranged a marriage between her and young lawyer broker. They told the broker of the girl's prospects, and he was convinced that he could use the money in his business. And there would probably have been a marriage had it not been for 'foxy grandma.'

"But she decided to put this unexpected suitor to the test. So grandma went to the city, arrayed herself in fine clothes after taking a suite in an expensive hotel, and managed to meet the broker on the plea of wanting to invest in securities. She had lots of money, and the broker needed it. He figured that the girl was more or less of a speculation, as she might or might not get her fortune, but the other woman had the cash. Grandma carefully kept the relationship from him, and he did not even know that she was acquainted with the girl which is why he finally decided to be an old woman's darling. Grandma lured him down to the country, exposed his treachery before the reproachful eyes of the girl, and ordered him away. Then with a sigh of relief, she put away her fine clothes, arrayed herself in her simple garb, took up her knitting, and became the plain old grandmother again."

REVIEW, The Billboard, June 14, 1911:

"Grandma is given ample opportunity to display her foxiness in this playlet and she does it to good advantage. Her granddaughter has deserted her country lover for the attractions of young city broker. Grandma decides to determine the latter's worth and, posing as a girl in a costume, she makes love to him. She determines from his actions that he is not the man for the girl, and clears the way for the country lad, who all too freely takes his opportunity to make good. A little drawn out, the film is yet an interesting one and Grandma is a good laugh."

REVIEW, The Morning Telegraph, June 25, 1911:

"This is one of the most delightful comedies this firm has put forth, and it is one of their most praiseworthy offerings from the viewpoint of the stage producer and director, rivaling that of any other maker of a similar character. The story is unique and entertaining and more than holds the interest, the leading character of the grandmother being one of the most pleasing impersonations it has been the good fortune of the critic to see in photo-play offerings. It is a well acted portrayal and the make-up is splendid, the contrast between the two impersonations - the natural one of the old lady as she is herself, and the other as she plays the role of a younger woman - being most effective. The story tells of the love affair of this old lady's granddaughter, who is wooed by a local country boy of her home village and who later is admired by a city broker, whom she meets when visiting relatives in town. This man learns of her fortune coming to her from her grandmother, and his wooing becomes more ardent. She writes grandmother all about it and the lady decides to unravel the realities herself.

"So she goes to the city, does a day's shopping, engages a woman to make her look younger, dons a black wig and sets forth looking like her own daughter. She calls on the broker and asks his advice about stock investments, showing him a list of her properties. He is more than attentive, and when asked to visit her he eagerly accepts. Grandma then has the relatives and her granddaughter on for house party. The broker is met at the depot by granny, who disguises herself with auto cloak and veil, and all the way home in the car the young man makes love to her, proposing on arrival at the house. The old lady indignantly repulses him, removes her veil and orders him from the house, while the girl weepingly throws herself into the arms of the dear old woman, who folds her to her breast as the film fades into remember-land."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, July 8, 1911:

"There is a good comic idea in this picture. Instead of mamma flirting successfully with the interested suitor for the hand and, incidentally, the fortune of a pretty heroine, grandmama does. We don't ask such a play to be convincing. The picture has one clear fault. If the country lover was to be shown as fortunate in the end, he shouldn't have been made such a lout. The Thanhouser Company is usually unfortunate in its country lads. This fault has spoiled some of its good pictures."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, August 26, 1911: A review from an column titled "Croak No. 1," by Tadpole, an otherwise unidentified writer who saw a dozen films and commented on them, including Foxy Grandma, is reprinted in the narrative section of the present work.

REVIEW, The New York Dramatic Mirror, June 28, 1911:

"A clever little comedy is made exceptionally entertaining by the delightful presence and work of the lady playing the role of the grandmother. Her portrayals have always been a pleasure to witness. When she receives a letter from her niece to the effect that a young broker had proposed to her, grandma, although a simple-hearted country woman, decides to go to the city to test this young man's sincerity. As she is a wealthy lady she fears the young man is after the money that belongs to herself and her niece. She stops at an expensive hotel and transforms herself into a grande dame. After consulting the young broker about business matters he becomes very much interested in her. She invites him out to her country estate. She gathers her niece and friends about her, and when the young man arrives and proposes, she calls them in, shows them her rings, and thus exposes his cupidity. The settings are in good keeping. The country boy in the city was exaggerated too much for natural effect."

# # #