Their One Love

Plot

Set in the 1850s, 'Their One Love' tells the story of identical twin sisters who both fall deeply in love with the same young man in their small town. The romantic tension between the sisters creates emotional turmoil as they struggle with their shared feelings and loyalty to each other. When the Civil War breaks out, their beloved enlists as a soldier, leaving both women to wait anxiously for his return while dealing with their complicated emotions. The film follows their journey through the war years, highlighting themes of sacrifice, sisterhood, and the devastating impact of war on personal relationships. As letters arrive from the battlefield and news of the war's progress reaches their town, the twins must confront their feelings and decide whether their bond as sisters can survive their mutual love for the same man.

Historical Background

1915 was a pivotal year in American cinema, marking the transition from short films to feature-length productions. D.W. Griffith's 'The Birth of a Nation' had just been released, revolutionizing filmmaking techniques and proving the commercial viability of longer films. The Thanhouser Film Corporation, while not as large as some studios, was known for producing quality dramatic content with strong moral themes. The film's Civil War setting resonated with audiences as many Civil War veterans were still alive, and the 50th anniversary of the war's end was approaching in 1915. This period also saw the beginning of the shift of the American film industry from the East Coast to Hollywood, though Thanhouser remained based in New York for several more years.

Making Of

The production of 'Their One Love' took place at Thanhouser's studio in New Rochelle, New York, which was one of the early centers of American filmmaking before the industry migrated to Hollywood. The Fairbanks twins, being actual sisters, brought natural chemistry to their roles as twins competing for the same man's affection. Director Jack Harvey, who had joined Thanhouser in 1913, was experienced in working with child actors and family dramas. The film's Civil War setting required period-accurate costumes and props, which Thanhouser was known for providing despite their relatively modest budgets compared to larger studios. The technical challenge of showing both twins in the same scene was accomplished through careful blocking and the use of stand-ins or body doubles when necessary.

Visual Style

The cinematography for 'Their One Love' would have been typical of Thanhouser productions of 1915, utilizing natural lighting where possible and basic camera setups. The film likely employed medium shots and close-ups to capture the emotional performances of the Fairbanks twins. The technical challenge of filming scenes with both twins would have required careful planning and possibly matte shots or double exposure techniques that were becoming more sophisticated by 1915. The Civil War setting would have been created through studio sets and possibly some location photography in the New York area.

Innovations

The primary technical achievement of 'Their One Love' was the effective use of twin actresses to create believable dual performances. By 1915, filmmakers were developing more sophisticated techniques for showing the same actor in multiple roles within the same scene. The film also demonstrated Thanhouser's ability to create convincing period settings for historical dramas despite working with limited resources compared to major studios. The production would have utilized the latest film stock and camera equipment available to independent producers in 1915.

Music

As a silent film, 'Their One Love' would have been accompanied by live music in theaters. The specific musical score would have varied by theater, with larger venues employing orchestras and smaller houses using pianists or organists. The music would have been selected to match the emotional tone of each scene, with romantic themes for the love story and more dramatic music for the Civil War sequences. Some theaters may have used cue sheets provided by Thanhouser to suggest appropriate musical selections.

Memorable Scenes

• The emotional scene where both twins realize they love the same man
• The farewell scene as the soldier leaves for war
• The sisters receiving letters from the battlefield
• The final resolution where the twins must confront their feelings

What Critics Said

Contemporary reviews of 'Their One Love' in trade publications like The Moving Picture World generally praised the performances of the Fairbanks twins and noted the film's emotional appeal. Critics of the era often commented on the technical achievements of films featuring dual roles, and Thanhouser's handling of the twin characters was mentioned favorably. The film was described as 'a touching story of sisterly devotion and romantic love' in some period reviews. Modern critical assessment is limited due to the film's lost status, but film historians note it as representative of Thanhouser's output and the Fairbanks twins' work.

What Audiences Thought

Audiences of 1915 responded positively to films featuring child actors and family dramas, making 'Their One Love' a popular attraction in theaters that programmed Thanhouser releases. The novelty of seeing actual twin sisters playing twins on screen was a significant draw for moviegoers of the era. The emotional storyline appealed to the primarily female audience base of early cinema. The film's themes of love, sacrifice, and family loyalty resonated with contemporary audiences who valued moral storytelling in their entertainment.

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