An Old Man's Love Story (1913) User Reviews

True love wins over parental ambition

[bbmtwist · 5/10 · 20 June 2011]

This is a lovely short (13 minutes) silent film. The Marsham family welcomes an old friend back into their lives - James Greythorne, played by Van Dyke Brooke. They intend that he marry their daughter Ethel (Norma Talmadge), though he is obviously too old for her and is in love with a young man, Cyril Moffat (the quite handsome Frank O'Neil), who obviously does not suit the parents.

It's not long before the old man sizes up the situation and finds a solution worthy of the dutiful Ethel's plans for submission and sacrifice and allows true love to win out. Similar to stories George Arliss starred in where an old man acts as a guardian angel for young lovers.

An enjoyable little film.

Brief love story with a fine twist

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 4 February 2017]

AN OLD MAN'S LOVE STORY is a silent short made available via Amazon Prime thanks to Harpodeon. It's a nice little effort that tells a fairly complex little storyline in just 13 minutes, and manages to have a sweet happy ever after while avoiding sentimentalism throughout.

The story is about a young woman who has reached the age to be married off by her parents (this part of the tale dates it quite a lot). She has a handsome young suitor in mind, but her father insists on a wealthy older man, and there the conflict arises. The story-focused narrative means that there's not much room for genuine acting ability, but I found the pacing good and the twist ending quite perfect.

The unconstrained naturalness of its characters is its best charm

[deickemeyer · 14 October 2017]

There have been greater pictures with more significant stories, but we doubt whether there have been many better or more pleasing in this showing of natural, human things. The story is by W.A. Tremayne and has been skillfully planned to go upon the screen. The picture's real quality comes from the way the script has been handled by producer, stage manager and artists. The unconstrained naturalness of its characters is its best charm, but not its only high quality by any means; for cameraman and nearly everyone else concerned have worked together to an end that is truly worthwhile. The second best quality that we notice is the economy of its action, the things that it didn't show delight us greatly; we are bothered with nothing our eyes would picture for ourselves and miss no link that our imagination needs. Florence Radinoff and James Lackeye play the parents of a daughter. Norma Talmadge, whom they want to marry a rich old man. Van Dyke Brooke. To show how vividly the players have imagined the situation, we pick out one of many good incidents. The father is about to offer the rich, prospective son-in-law, Van Dyke Brooke, a cigar, and we can tell by the way he handles them that he has provided himself with real good ones for the occasion. James Lackeye does the picture's best work, but Florence Radinoff is very close to him in truth, and Norma Talmadge is charming in her interpretation of the situation's emotional content. Frank O'Neil, as the young man, is fine, except in his entrance into the room after he has been adopted by the old man. who plays his role with quiet dignity. There is much credit due the producer, Van Dyke Brooke, for his direction of the players, which is perfect. A desirable release. - The Moving Picture World, August 9, 1913

Lowkey and charming

[MissSimonetta · 7/10 · 13 May 2022]

AN OLD MAN'S LOVE STORY is not the kind of movie that you'll find in the film history textbooks. It's pretty typical for the time in terms of its melodramatic plot and simple, stage-like compositions (though admittedly it does have its inspired moments, like when the heroine sits with her back to the camera while her parents, seated to each side of her, lecture her about how she needs to forget her own desires for her life and marry for money-- having her back to the camera emphasizes her powerlessness and lack of say in her destiny). However, it is a charming little story that does not outstay its welcome and Norma Talmadge is sweetly sympathetic in the lead role.