The Portrait (1914) User Reviews

It is a gem

[deickemeyer · 18 June 2018]

A two-reel drama, written by Catherine Carr, and directed by James Young. Occasionally a superior photoplay suddenly creeps up amongst the suff-stuff, that stands out like an old exquisitely cut cameo that grandma used to wear in her lace collar. Such is "The Portrait." The spectator that can keep the tears from welling down hardened cheeks, viewing this picture, has forgotten childhood days. It is a gem. Mrs. Mary Maurice is ideal in appearance and interpretation as the mother, and James Morrison, as her son was admirable, as was James Young as Ralph Dryden. All in the cast are adequate and perfect types of the characters portrayed. All honor to the producer and author. Exhibitors will make no mistake in booking this picture. - The Moving Picture World, March 28, 1914

A corny melodrama played for laughs

[edalweber · 5 May 2010]

While there is no description of this movie, and I can't be absolutely certain, I believe that this is the one which was used in a 1930's short, one of those ones which "sent up" silent melodramas by adding a humorous narration and sound effects. I saw it on TCM several times.The theme was"the downfall of an artist's model through drink". An artist uses Ed Young as a model to paint a picture of a handsome man. Young turns to drink,gradually goes downhill, and becomes a scruffy, unshaven derelict. The same artist hires him again, this time for booze, and paints him as a hideous wreck. When Young sees the portrait, the shock of how far he has fallen causes him to drop dead.(His reactions are so exaggerated you have to wonder if this was intended as a drama or a comedy.) According to the narrator, who identifies several of the players, Young's wife Clara Kimball Young appears as a woman at a party, as does her father Ed Kimball, who appears briefly at the party as a bishop looking disapprovingly at Young's drinking.By the way, according to a biography"The Ringlings,Wizards of the Circus" Ed Kimball worked in their traveling variety show before they had their circus.