A Girl Like That (1917)

Kate Bruce, Irene Fenwick and William J. Butler in A GIRL LIKE THAT (1917)

Kate Bruce, Irene Fenwick, William J. Butler

Irene Fenwick in A GIRL LIKE THAT (1917)

F137-76 Irene Fenwick

William J. Butler and Owen Moore in A GIRL LIKE THAT (1917)

F137-80 William J. Butler, Owen Moore

Kate Bruce, William J. Butler, Irene Fenwick and Owen Moore in A GIRL LIKE THAT (1917)

F137-85 Kate Bruce, William J. Butler, Irene Fenwick, Owen Moore

Olive Thomas and Owen Moore in A GIRL LIKE THAT (1917)

Olive Thomas (center), Owen Moore (right).  Part of this photo is missing. Thanks to Jonathan Pettit for identifying this photo.


"A Girl Like That"
Owen Moore and Irene Fenwick Featured in Famous Players Story That Has Good Moments
Reviewed by George Blaisdell.

THE Famous Players released on January 18 "A Girl Like That," a melodrama with a crook touch, but only a touch at that. It is directed by Del Henderson. Featured are Owen Moore and Irene Fenwick. Mr. Moore has the role of a cashier of a country bank -- and it is a good character drawing of the bashful, nervous young man reared in a rural environment. Miss Fenwick is seen as the daughter of a bank burglar, who has decided to give up his old habits, and declines to be persuaded to resume them. The story turns upon the efforts of Nell Gordon, portrayed by Miss Fenwick, to keep her father straight and walk straight herself.

There is a goo village atmosphere running through the picture -- of the little bank, the home life of the country parson and his wife, with whom Nell boards on the strength of her forged letters of recommendation, and of the church "sociable." There is strong love interest, too, following the arrival in town of the young woman who secures a position as bookkeeper in the bank; it is her love for the cashier which is the determining factor in the upsetting of the plans of the burglars and their later capture.

There is a good cast supporting the two principals. Jack Dillon is the sheriff and Alice (sic) Thomas is Fannie, the sister of the cashier. There is a subsidiary love match here which contributes to the interest. Tom O'Keefe, Edwin Sturgis and Harry Lee, the latter as John Gordon, portray the bank burglars. William Butler is the clergyman.

The raid on the bank is dramatic. It takes place in a rain storm unusual in intensity. The struggle in the bank following the opening of the safe possesses real elements of melodrama. There are other terse moments, too, as when the father of Nell is killed by his companions because he refuses to instruct Nell to give them the aid they later try to secure by subterfuge, only to fall into the trap she lays for them.

"A Girl Like That" will be liked.

-- Moving Picture World, February 3, 1917, p. 701


"A Girl Like That"
(Famous Players - Paramount - Five Reels)
REVIEWED BY GEORGE N. SHOREY

IF your audiences like full five reels of action, with a direct plot which keeps on going without flashbacks and other doubtful aids to the story, they have it here. The only disappointment will be in the cutting of the climax befoer the audience really gets the punch, and in a weak anti-climax "happily ever after" extra footage, which, however, does no serious damage.

The story of a girl brought up to crookedness, and daughter of a burglar and safeblower, who in ill health repents his ways and resolves to "go straight," but who is sick and in need of money is here told in a new way. The girl, with false letter to a small-town minister, enters the employ of the cashier of the local bank, in order that she may learn the combination to his safe and make "dead easy" a last little job which is to take care of her father.

When she discovers she has fallen in love with the innocent victim, and tries to escape from the dilemma, her "pals" come to urge her on and threaten to "blow" if she "double crosses" them. The audience is held in real suspense during these developments until her father, who refuses to be a part to holding his daughter to another crooked job, is murdered in cold blood because of this refusal. She learns of this murder through the newspapers, and instantly arranges a "frame-up" for vengeance and at the same time to protect her lover. She intends to leave town, so he will never know she is "a girl like that." But he loses not time in coming to the bank just in time to see the burglars caught red-handed, and to take Nell in his arms to a safer place. The chance for a big scene of dramatic pathos here is not used, but abruptly the story ends, and the scene shifts to a later proposal of marriage and some pretty wedding preparations.

As a who this is a very good pictre and will interest any audience. Owen Moore and Irene Fenwick in combination should draw. And the title is good.


-- Motion Picture News, February 3, 1917, pp. 759-760


" A GIRL LIKE THAT"
Famous Players. Five Reels.
Released January 18 by Paramount

Cast

Nell Gordon Irene Fenwick
Jim Brooks Owen Moore
Bill Whipple Tom O'Keefe
Joe Dunham Edwin Sturgis
John Gordon Harry Lee
Tom Hoadley Jack Dillon
Fannie Brooks Alice Thomas (Olive Thomas)

Story -- Crook melodrama, with rustic atmosphere. Directed by Dell Henderson.
Action -- Melodramatic.
Continuity -- Even.
Suspense -- Strong.
Detail -- Good.
Atmosphere -- Excellent.
Photography -- O.K.

Remarks.
Here is a rather unusual story. Irene Fenwick is the daughter of one of a gang of bank robbers and is sent to fill the position of bookkeeper in an Indiana town. Also, she is to learn the combination of the safe. She falls in love with the cashier, a nervous country youth, and does not answer the crooks. They follow her and, with the aid of the county sheriff, she traps them.

Previous to this, one of the crooks had killed her father and she see the story in a newspaper. The characters for the country town scenes have been well chosen and the atmosphere is better than usual for a picture of this kind. Owen Moore gives a good portrayal of the country bank cashier while Miss Fenwick seemed right at home at the village functions.

Box Office Value.
Two days. Advertise Fenwick-Moore combination
-- New York Clipper, January 24, 1917, p. 34

 


with Irene Fenwick, Olive Thomas, Owen Moore. Directed by Hugh Ford. Famous Players/Paramount.

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Last Modified August 11, 2019