She Would Be an Actress
"A comedy of a stage-struck wife and her husband's clever cure."
Plot
Mrs. Youngwife, a domestic woman suddenly captivated by the allure of the theater, decides to abandon her household duties after purchasing a self-help manual titled 'How to Become a Great Actress.' Convinced of her latent talent, she begins practicing dramatic poses and eventually secures a booking at a local venue through a chance encounter with an agent. Her husband, distressed by her sudden transformation and neglect of their home, attempts to dissuade her but fails, leading him to follow her to the theater in a clever disguise. During her debut performance, the husband creates a scene by posing as an overly enthusiastic admirer, ultimately forcing a confrontation that exposes the 'glamour' of stage life as a threat to their marriage. Realizing the value of her domestic peace over the fickle applause of the public, she renounces her theatrical ambitions and reconciles with her husband.
About the Production
The film was produced by Siegmund Lubin's prolific studio and was originally released as part of a 'split-reel,' a common practice of the era where two short films were joined on a single 1,000-foot reel to provide a variety of entertainment. It was paired with another Lubin comedy titled 'His Little Girl.' The production is noted by film historians for its transition away from flat, painted backdrops toward more realistic three-dimensional sets.
Historical Background
In 1909, the American film industry was undergoing a massive transition from a 'cinema of attractions' to a 'cinema of narrative continuity.' This was the year the Motion Picture Patents Company (the 'Edison Trust') was fully operational, attempting to standardize film lengths and distribution. Socially, the 'New Woman' was beginning to emerge, challenging traditional Victorian roles. The 'stage-struck' girl was a popular cultural trope in magazines and early cinema, often used to warn young women that the pursuit of fame was a dangerous path that led to the neglect of family and moral peril.
Why This Film Matters
The film is significant for its early portrayal of the 'stage-struck' archetype, a character type that would be explored by major stars like Mary Pickford in later years (e.g., 'Behind the Scenes' 1914). It serves as a cultural artifact reflecting the tension between traditional domesticity and the burgeoning celebrity culture of the early 20th century. Furthermore, its technical shift toward realistic set design and depth-of-field composition marks it as an important stepping stone in the development of the 'Classical Hollywood' style of filmmaking.
Making Of
During the production of 'She Would Be an Actress,' the Lubin Manufacturing Company was in the process of refining its studio techniques. Unlike many contemporary films that used flat, theatrical-style backdrops, this film utilized a 'corner set' configuration in the opening dining room scene. This involved placing two flats at an angle to create a three-dimensional corner, which allowed for more dynamic blocking of the actors. The production also utilized 'unusual camera uses' for the time, including a close-up of the book 'How to Become a Great Actress' to ensure the audience understood the source of the wife's sudden obsession. This was part of a broader movement in the Lubin studio to improve narrative clarity through visual cues rather than relying solely on intertitles.
Visual Style
The film is noted for its early use of the close-up to highlight a plot-essential object (the book). It also features a static but deep-focus camera style that utilizes the 'corner set' to provide a more immersive environment than the flat-on-wall shots common in the early 1900s.
Innovations
The primary technical achievement was the integration of 'real' domestic objects (like the china cupboard) and the use of angled flats to create a three-dimensional playing space, moving away from the 'stage-like' flatness of early cinema.
Music
As a silent film, there was no recorded soundtrack. It would have been accompanied by a live pianist or organist in the theater, likely playing popular comedic tunes or 'hurdy-gurdy' style music to match the scenes of the wife dancing.
Famous Quotes
'How to Become a Great Actress' (Text on the book that triggers the plot)
Memorable Scenes
- The opening close-up of the wife reading the instruction manual, which establishes her motivation visually.
- The scene where the wife dances to the music of a street hurdy-gurdy, demonstrating her 'talent' to a passing agent.
- The husband's arrival at the theater in disguise, where he disrupts the performance by acting as a 'too ardent' admirer.
Did You Know?
- The film features an early example of a 'film-within-a-film' reflexivity, as the protagonist attempts to learn acting from a book, mocking the contemporary 'stage-struck' phenomenon.
- It was copyrighted under the registration number J132445 on August 5, 1909.
- The set design includes a real china cupboard, which was a significant step toward realism in an era when most props were merely painted onto the background.
- The film is cited in 'The Classical Hollywood Cinema' as an example of early experiments with 'corner sets' to create a sense of depth.
- Siegmund Lubin, the producer, was a pioneer who often clashed with Thomas Edison over film patents before joining the Motion Picture Patents Company.
- The lead actress's performance includes a sequence where she dances to a street hurdy-gurdy, which catches the eye of a theatrical agent.
- The film's plot reflects a common 1900s social anxiety regarding women leaving the domestic sphere for professional careers in entertainment.
What Critics Said
At the time of its release, trade publications like 'The Moving Picture World' generally noted Lubin comedies for their clear photography and straightforward humor. Modern film historians, such as David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson, have revisited the film to analyze its spatial construction, praising its use of real furniture and three-dimensional sets as a sophisticated departure from the primitive 'tableau' style of earlier years.
What Audiences Thought
Audiences in 1909 would have viewed this as a relatable domestic comedy. The 'split-reel' format meant it was likely seen as a lighthearted 'filler' between more serious dramas or newsreels. The humor derived from the husband's disguise and the physical comedy of the 'theatrical' performance would have been the primary draw for nickelodeon patrons.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- The 'stage-struck' tropes found in contemporary vaudeville sketches
- Early 'trick' films that used books or objects as catalysts for character changes
This Film Influenced
- Stage Struck (1911)
- Behind the Scenes (1914)
- Show Girl (1928)
You Might Also Like
Film Restoration
The film is preserved in the Library of Congress Paper Print Collection. Because early films were often printed on paper for copyright purposes, this film survived while many nitrate prints of the era were lost to decay or fire.