The Piper's Price was an excellently acted domestic drama with startling twists leading up to it's triumphal ending..
Ralph Hadley ( William Stowell ) has divorced his first wife Jessica ( Maude George ), a judicious businesswoman, to marry the gentle-natured Amy ( Dorothy Philips ). Meanwhile, attorney Billy Kilmartin ( Lon Chaney ) after years of admiring Jessica, now ardently pursues her with his persistent attentions. Ralph and Jessica both hold stock in a business, and during a stockholder meeting, Ralph finds himself once again attracted to the savvy Jessica. He nonchalantly takes Jessica to lunch, a foolish move that sets tongues-wagging about the ex-couple. Soon enough the news reaches Amy, who has just discovered she is pregnant , but decides to keep it a secret from Ralph. She visits Ralph's office one day and discovers Jessica there , Ralph introduces Amy to his ex-wife. After Jessica leaves, Amy explodes with anger, and the denying naive Ralph now realizes he has fallen in love with his ex-wife. Amy takes it upon herself to tell Jessica of the forthcoming birth of their child. Jessica agrees to give Ralph up and quickly marries the always devoted Billy Kilmartin. Heartbroken by the news, Ralph goes home with the intentions of shooting himself, when Amy's doctor interrupts, congratulating Ralph with the good news of the birth of his child. Brought back to his senses, Ralph realizes his true love has always been for Amy and they are happily reunited.
The Piper's Price garnered rave reviews from both critics and audiences , with special attention paid to the performances given by Dorothy Philips and Lon Chaney. Chaney's screen career started in 1912 , with this lost 1917 silent film considered to be his breakthrough. The loss of so many of his early films, is sadly frustrating for fans of Chaney to study his growth as an actor prior to his major successes. Silent film enthusiasts can only hope for a surviving copy of this dramatic film to someday resurface.
Ralph Hadley ( William Stowell ) has divorced his first wife Jessica ( Maude George ), a judicious businesswoman, to marry the gentle-natured Amy ( Dorothy Philips ). Meanwhile, attorney Billy Kilmartin ( Lon Chaney ) after years of admiring Jessica, now ardently pursues her with his persistent attentions. Ralph and Jessica both hold stock in a business, and during a stockholder meeting, Ralph finds himself once again attracted to the savvy Jessica. He nonchalantly takes Jessica to lunch, a foolish move that sets tongues-wagging about the ex-couple. Soon enough the news reaches Amy, who has just discovered she is pregnant , but decides to keep it a secret from Ralph. She visits Ralph's office one day and discovers Jessica there , Ralph introduces Amy to his ex-wife. After Jessica leaves, Amy explodes with anger, and the denying naive Ralph now realizes he has fallen in love with his ex-wife. Amy takes it upon herself to tell Jessica of the forthcoming birth of their child. Jessica agrees to give Ralph up and quickly marries the always devoted Billy Kilmartin. Heartbroken by the news, Ralph goes home with the intentions of shooting himself, when Amy's doctor interrupts, congratulating Ralph with the good news of the birth of his child. Brought back to his senses, Ralph realizes his true love has always been for Amy and they are happily reunited.
The Piper's Price garnered rave reviews from both critics and audiences , with special attention paid to the performances given by Dorothy Philips and Lon Chaney. Chaney's screen career started in 1912 , with this lost 1917 silent film considered to be his breakthrough. The loss of so many of his early films, is sadly frustrating for fans of Chaney to study his growth as an actor prior to his major successes. Silent film enthusiasts can only hope for a surviving copy of this dramatic film to someday resurface.
