The Gentle Intruder
Directed byJames Kirkwood
Written byClifford Howard
StarringMary Miles Minter
Distributed byMutual Film
Release date
  • February 19, 1917 (1917-02-19)
Running time
5 reels
CountryUnited States
LanguagesSilent
English intertitles

The Gentle Intruder is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by James Kirkwood and starring Mary Miles Minter. The film was Minter's sixth production with Mutual Film.[1] It is one of approximately a dozen of Minter's films known to have survived; a copy is held by the Dutch Filmmuseum.[2]

Plot

Scene from "The Gentle Intruder" (1917)

As described in film magazines,[3][4][5] Sylvia (Minter) is the niece of a wealthy man who, unbeknownst to her, wills her his entire fortune. Her uncle's attorney, Baxter (Clark), appropriates the money to fund his family's lavish social life, and employs Sylvia in his house as a servant, whose role is to act as a companion to his sister.

The Baxter family's ill-gotten fortune has a negative effect upon their son Arnold (Fisher), who turns to gambling and to drink. While trying to hide the worst of his excesses from his father, Sylvia comes to realise that she loves Arnold. Arnold, in turn, discovers that his family's wealth is truthfully Sylvia's, and confronts his father about this.

The family are horrified at the thought of losing their lavish lifestyle, and Baxter begs Sylvia for forgiveness. Sylvia is content without the fortune, having found something far preferable to her than the money, and she and Arnold are married.

Production

The December 20, 1916 issue of Reel Life had a news item describing an element of the film's production: "George Periolat, who plays an important role in the first scenes of The Gentle Intruder, the new Mary Miles Minter feature being directed by James Kirkwood, is having an easy time this week at the Santa Barbara studio of the American company. All he has to do is to lie in bed all day while the camera records his failing health and death. After three or four days of it, however, Periolat says he doesn't wish to see a bed for a week."[6]

In the February 3, 1917 issue, Reel Life also observed that The Gentle Intruder was Minter's first film "with her hair done up."[7]

Reception

The Moving Picture World said on February 24, 1917 that the film "will be a fit companion piece to the preceding pictures in which the young American star [Minter] has appeared, and affords her a wide opportunity in a difficult role."[8]

Motion Picture News said on March 3, 1917 that the film "is a typical Mary Miles Minter-Cinderella production. By this we mean that the diminutive star has the same tribulations that she has encountered so many times in the celluloid... These plot high-lights have been incorporated into nearly every picture starring Miss Minter. They will probably continue to form the foundation of Minter releases, because these circumstances are ideal for displaying the star's youth, wistfulness, and engaging mannerisms. The public would probably resent seeing Miss Minter in a different kind of role, just as it wants Maude Adams to play nothing but Peter Pan."[9]

Proving the Motion Picture News critic correct, the Dayton, Ohio Journal review objected to Minter's hairstyle: "Give us back our Mary. In The Gentle Intruder, Mary is no longer the laughing care-free child. She has her hair done up. Lord! fancy Mary Miles with done up hair. We refuse to stand for it. Of course Mary is gentle and wistful and awfully nice, but we want her with her hair down."[10]

Cast

References

  1. ↑ "Mutual News Gentle Intruder New Minter-Mutual Issued This Week". Moving Picture World. New York City: Chalmers Publishing Company. 31 (8): . February 24, 1917.
  2. ↑ The Library of Congress/FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Gentle Intruder
  3. ↑ "Current Releases Reviewed: The Gentle Intruder". Motography. Chicago: Electricity Magazine Corp. 17 (8): . February 24, 1917.
  4. ↑ "Stories of the Films: The Gentle Intruder". Moving Picture World. New York City: Chalmers Publishing Company. 31 (8): . February 24, 1917.
  5. ↑ "Screen Examinations: The Gentle Intruder". Motion Picture News. New York City: Motion Picture News, Inc. 15 (9): . March 3, 1917.
  6. ↑ "News item". Reel Life: 5. December 30, 1916. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  7. ↑ "News item". Reel Life: 9. February 3, 1917. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  8. ↑ "Miss Minter Heads Mutual". The Moving Picture World: 1215. February 24, 1917. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  9. ↑ "The Gentle Intruder". Motion Picture News. 15 (9): 1421–1422. March 3, 1917. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  10. ↑ "News item". Reel Life: 8. April 14, 1917. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
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