A Fool There Was (1915)

A married diplomat falls hopelessly under the spell of a predatory woman.

Writer:

Porter Emerson Browne (by)

Stars:

Theda Bara, Mabel Frenyear, Edward José

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Theda Bara	...	The Vampire
Mabel Frenyear	...	Mrs. Kate Schuyler - the Fool's Wife
Edward José	...	John Schuyler - the Fool
May Allison	...	The Wife's Sister
Runa Hodges	...	The Child
Clifford Bruce	...	Tom - the Friend
Victor Benoit	...	Reginal Parmalee - a Victim
Minna Gale	...	The Doctor's Fiancee
Frank Powell	...	The Doctor
Creighton Hale	...	Minor Role

Storyline

John Schuyler, happily married Wall Street lawyer, is appointed as special diplomatic representative to England. By an unhappy accident, his wife and child can't come along; but on the ship with him is "The Vampire," a "notorious woman" who lives off a succession of men she has seduced and ruined. Slighted by Mrs. Schuyler, she has set her sights on the husband. Two months later, we find the Fool languishing with the mistress who has him enmeshed in her toils. Will he follow the others to the depths of degradation?

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Plot Keywords:

seductress | daughter | vamp | grudge | vanity | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 January 1915 (USA)

Also Known As:

A veszedelmes asszony

Filming Locations:

Fox/Willat Studio, Fort Lee, New Jersey, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

William Fox Vaudeville Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

67 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Other actresses considered by director Powell as the vamp were Valeska Suratt and Madlaine Traverse. He almost settled on Virginia Pearson before giving it to Bara.

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Goofs

The ship they travel on is the Gigantic, referred to in the newspaper as a Cunarder. In fact Cunard names ended in -ia (e.g. "Mauretania"), while White Star names ended in -ic (e.g. "Olympic").

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Quotes

Reginal Parmalee: You have ruined me, you devil, and now you discard me!

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Connections

Featured in Empire of the Censors (1995)

User Reviews

Kiss Me, My Fool!

Exotic seductress Theda Bara (as "The Vampire") learns happily married Edward Jose (as John Schuyler) will be sailing for Europe on a business trip. Deciding to entrap the wealthy man, Ms. Bara secures herself on board his ship. When Mr. Jose's sister-in-law May Allison falls to illness, wife Mabel Frenyear (as Kate) decides to stay home with cute little Runa Hodges. On board, this gives Bara free reign over Jose. A glimpse at Bara's bare ankles fills him with desire, and he succumbs to her wiles. The month-long trip doubles in length. Apparently, Jose is addicted to the sex and drugs provided by Bara. She may destroy his life…

This film was "inspired" by Rudyard Kipling's poem "The Vampire" (1897), which could conceivably be about what we now call a "vampire". But, the word has a different meaning; here, "The Vampire" (or "vamp") was a female who possessed an irresistible sexual command. Allegorically, it's all about sex; however, "A Fool There Was" is unimaginative in that regard. Nevertheless, this stilted sex drama introduced someone new, and was a big critical and commercial success. Bara became a major movie star, appearing in the lower half of the "Top Ten" lists in "Motion Picture Magazine" and "Quigley Publications" from 1916-1921.

**** A Fool There Was (1/12/15) Frank Powell ~ Theda Bara, Edward Jose, Mabel Frenyear, May Allison