Smouldering Fires (1925)

A successful businesswoman falls in love with one of her (much younger) factory workers. She doesn't know that he is in love with her younger sister.

Director:

Clarence Brown

Writers:

Dwinelle Benthall (titles), Melville W. Brown,

Stars:

Pauline Frederick, Laura La Plante, Malcolm McGregor

Cast

Cast overview:
Pauline Frederick	...	Jane Vale
Laura La Plante	...	Dorothy Vale
Malcolm McGregor	...	Robert Elliott
Tully Marshall	...	Scotty
Wanda Hawley	...	Lucy
Helen Lynch	...	Kate Brown
George Cooper	...	Mugsy
Bert Roach	...	Member of the Committee
Billy Gould	...	Member of the Committee
Rolfe Sedan	...	Member of the Committee
Jack McDonald	...	Member of the Committee
William Orlamond	...	Member of the Committee
Bobby Mack	...	Member of the Committee (as Robert Mack)
Frank Newburg	...	Member of the Committee

Storyline

A successful businesswoman falls in love with one of her (much younger) factory workers. She doesn't know that he is in love with her younger sister.

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Plot Keywords:

factory | working woman

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 January 1925 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gynaika saranta hronon

Filming Locations:

Yosemite National Park, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Fine Frederick performance in sacrificial tear-jerker

Clarence Brown's deft directorial touches save this weeper from the travesty it might have been under less skilled direction. Pauline Frederick, now forgotten, was a great silent diva and a very talented, restrained actress. Physically, one is reminded of a cross between Bette Davis and Clara Kimball Young as far as her technique is concerned. She is quite solidly at the center of the film and gives quite a fine performance (worthy of award consideration). She goes from a mannish businesswoman to a touching and vulnerable woman, finding a young love in middle age, then realizing she has lost him to her younger sister. Knowing the two of them intend never to act on their feelings out of loyalty to her, she manipulates the situation to give her young man back his freedom.

It's a nice film and very worthy your seeking out for Frederick's performance alone.