Young Romance

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.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

Exhibitors in 1915 booked Young Romance through Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company as part of the era's steady flow of new releases.

Why this film matters

Archivists note that Young Romance preserves period framing of two young clerks in a department store meet and fall in love during a seaside vacation in for modern comparison.

Making of

Production records for Young Romance are limited, though release paperwork confirms its place in 1915 distribution.

What critics said

Trade coverage around 1915 treated Young Romance as routine program material rather than a special event.

Did you know?

• Young Romance is documented as a 1915 release in studio and trade listings.
• Surviving materials help place Young Romance among contemporaneous shorts and features.

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.

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)

Film restoration

Availability of Young Romance depends on archive holdings and rights status.