Young Romance
"A story of two young hearts who played at being rich—and found a wealth of love."
Plot
Nellie Nolan is a humble department store clerk in New York City who spends an entire year's savings to fund a one-week luxury vacation in Maine, where she masquerades as a wealthy socialite named Edith Van Dusen. While at the resort, she meets Tom Clancy, another guest who appears to be a sophisticated 'swell' but is actually a fellow clerk from her own department store also posing as a millionaire. The two fall deeply in love under their false identities, but their romance is threatened when a criminal named Count Spagnoli, believing Nellie is a true heiress, kidnaps her for ransom. After a thrilling motorboat rescue by Tom, the vacation ends and the pair part ways in heartbreak, each believing they are socially beneath the other. They are eventually reunited by chance back at their workplace, where they joyfully discover their mutual deception and realize they are perfect for one another.
About the Production
The film was originally slated to be directed by Cecil B. DeMille, who is credited as 'Director General' in the film's titles, but the actual direction was handled by George Melford. Although the story is set on the rocky coast of Maine, the production utilized the California coastline and Santa Catalina Island to replicate the New England setting. The screenplay was adapted by William C. de Mille from his own successful stage play, marking an early collaboration between the DeMille brothers in the burgeoning Hollywood industry. The film was produced in late 1914 for a January 1915 release, during a pivotal era when the industry was transitioning from short films to feature-length narratives.
Historical Background
Released in 1915, 'Young Romance' arrived during the 'Transitional Period' of American cinema, where the industry moved away from nickelodeon shorts toward the 'feature-play' model. This was a time of rapid urbanization and the rise of the department store culture in America, which the film directly reflects through its protagonists. The story captures the pre-World War I American innocence and the social anxieties of the working class aspiring to the 'Gilded Age' lifestyle of the upper class. It also represents the early consolidation of power in Hollywood, as the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company was soon to merge into what would become Paramount Pictures.
Why This Film Matters
The film is significant as a rare surviving example of the early work of the DeMille family and the Lasky studio. It serves as a cultural document of the 'shopgirl' and 'clerk' archetypes that were popular in early 20th-century American fiction, exploring themes of class mobility and the 'American Dream.' Furthermore, it is the sole cinematic legacy of Edith Taliaferro, a major stage star of her era, providing modern historians with their only visual record of her acting style and screen presence.
Making Of
The production was a hallmark of the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company's efforts to bring prestige Broadway plays to the screen. Director George Melford and cinematographer Walter Stradling worked to elevate the visual storytelling beyond the standard stage-bound look of early features, specifically choosing Santa Catalina Island for its dramatic vistas. One of the production's biggest challenges was the climactic motorboat chase, which was a high-action sequence for 1915 and required precise coordination on the water. The film also benefited from the production design of Wilfred Buckland, who was instrumental in bringing professional theatrical lighting and set design standards to the Lasky studio.
Visual Style
The cinematography by Walter Stradling is noted for its early use of natural light and location shooting. The film utilizes deep focus in several interior scenes to show the scale of the department store and the luxury of the Maine resort. The 'sunset' sequence and the outdoor shots on Santa Catalina Island were specifically highlighted in 1915 trade journals as being of superior quality for the time.
Innovations
The film is an early example of the 'Lasky Lighting' style, developed by Wilfred Buckland and Cecil B. DeMille, which used directional stage lighting to create mood and depth rather than flatly lighting the entire set. The motorboat chase sequence also represented a sophisticated level of action editing for a romantic comedy of the mid-1910s.
Music
As a silent film, there was no synchronized soundtrack. Original screenings would have been accompanied by a live piano or organ score, often utilizing popular romantic ballads of the 1910s to emphasize the 'wistful' tone of the story.
Famous Quotes
Poor Tom's distress at the sight of a bill of fare in French, of which he could understand nothing but the fabulous prices ($3.00 for a pressed prairie chicken) was a most exquisite bit of acting. (Contemporary Review Quote)
Memorable Scenes
- The French Restaurant Scene: Tom and Nellie attempt to order from an all-French menu while trying to hide their confusion from a condescending waiter.
- The Motorboat Rescue: A high-speed chase through the waters of Santa Catalina Island where Tom saves Nellie from the villainous Count Spagnoli.
- The Reunion: The poignant moment in the department store where the two protagonists recognize each other in their working clothes and realize the truth.
Did You Know?
- This film marked the motion picture debut of Broadway stage actress Edith Taliaferro.
- Out of the three films Edith Taliaferro made in her career, 'Young Romance' is the only one known to still exist.
- The film features a very young Raymond Hatton in a supporting role as the hero's best friend; he would go on to have a career spanning five decades.
- The 'sunset' sequence in the film was highly praised by contemporary critics for its beautiful location photography and lighting.
- The screenplay was written by William C. de Mille, the older brother of Cecil B. DeMille and father of famed choreographer Agnes de Mille.
- Contemporary reviews noted the 'conscious condescension' of a waiter in a French restaurant scene as a highlight of the film's attention to detail.
- The film was released in Great Britain on June 21, 1915, under the same title.
- The plot's 'double masquerade' theme has been compared to the literary style of O. Henry.
What Critics Said
At the time of its release, 'Young Romance' was praised for its 'refined comedy' and the charm of its lead performances. W. Stephen Bush of 'Moving Picture World' lauded the film's attention to detail, particularly the humorous scene where the protagonists struggle with a French menu. Modern critics, such as film historian J.B. Kaufman, have rediscovered the film as a 'treasure hiding in plain sight,' noting its 'wistful charm' and 'tenderly poignant' ending that avoids the slapstick tropes common in comedies of that era.
What Audiences Thought
The film was well-received by 1915 audiences who identified with the 'everyman' struggle of the protagonists. Its blend of romance, social comedy, and a high-stakes action finale made it a successful 'program feature' for Paramount. Its popularity helped solidify the career of Tom Forman and established Edith Taliaferro as a viable screen personality, though she ultimately preferred the stage.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- The short stories of O. Henry
- William C. de Mille's original stage play
- Elizabethan 'disguise' comedies
This Film Influenced
- The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
- While You Were Sleeping (1995)
- The Lady Eve (1941)
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Film Restoration
The film is extant and has been preserved. It was notably released on DVD by Image Entertainment and Flicker Alley, often paired with the film 'Regeneration' (1915). The preservation is credited in part to the Cecil B. DeMille collection.