Back in the 19teens, early 20s, Thomas Meighan was one of the biggies
and ruled the Hollywood roost, even though he didn't turn to movies
until he was 36!! His rugged he-man looks combined with a wry sense
of humour made him a natural for the Cecil B, DeMille "bedroom" farces
with Gloria Swanson and Bebe Daniels. In fact he was such a valued
Paramount player that when they decided to close their New York
Astoria studios, he was the one star who refused to leave so it was kept
open for him. When his career started to decline it was Howard Hughes
and his Caddo Company who offered Meighan two of his meatiest
assignments, as the steadfast cop in "The Racket" and as the farmer
hunted by vigilantes in "The Mating Call".
Leslie Hatten returning a hero to his old home town on a short leave, marries the village belle Rose (Evelyn Brent) but has to return to the front without consummating the union. Two years later returning in glorious anticipation his hopes turn to ashes - her parents have had the marriage annulled and she is now married to Lon Henderson, a philanderer. Leslie now returns to farming but when Rose and Lon return from Europe Rose is now a knowing and wiser woman - she calls on a puzzled Leslie alone and puts all her vamping experience on display. Wow!! Who couldn't fall in love with Evelyn Brent - those looks, those eyes, that inviting mouth!! Leslie is determined to resist but even then is threatened with "The Order"!! "The Order" seems to be a men's club whose aim is to stamp out adultery, hooded, faceless men deliver rough justice to any man caught mistreating women!! Not only Rose but now Jessie, a girl Leslie last saw in pigtails, seem to be throwing themselves at him, so he decides to get a wife - from Ellis Island. He wants a real woman who will be a help mate to work his farm with him - not a doll faced local, so of course he chooses Renee Adoree! Adoree brings a sweetness and earthiness to her role as the grateful peasant who seems to be worth all the flighty girls in town put together!!
Finding a wife doesn't stop the local gossips from jumping to the conclusion that Leslie is the man young Jessie has been seeing clandestinely and when she is found in the river, an obvious suicide the full wrath of "The Order" shows itself against Hatten.
So much happens in just over an hour. Adoree's role is definitely a supporting role but Evelyn Brent has never looked and played to more alluring advantage - it is her movie all the way!! Helen Foster, who played Jessie, did shine for a moment in "Gold Diggers of Broadway" but she became mired in exploitation roles and couldn't really break free!!
Leslie Hatten returning a hero to his old home town on a short leave, marries the village belle Rose (Evelyn Brent) but has to return to the front without consummating the union. Two years later returning in glorious anticipation his hopes turn to ashes - her parents have had the marriage annulled and she is now married to Lon Henderson, a philanderer. Leslie now returns to farming but when Rose and Lon return from Europe Rose is now a knowing and wiser woman - she calls on a puzzled Leslie alone and puts all her vamping experience on display. Wow!! Who couldn't fall in love with Evelyn Brent - those looks, those eyes, that inviting mouth!! Leslie is determined to resist but even then is threatened with "The Order"!! "The Order" seems to be a men's club whose aim is to stamp out adultery, hooded, faceless men deliver rough justice to any man caught mistreating women!! Not only Rose but now Jessie, a girl Leslie last saw in pigtails, seem to be throwing themselves at him, so he decides to get a wife - from Ellis Island. He wants a real woman who will be a help mate to work his farm with him - not a doll faced local, so of course he chooses Renee Adoree! Adoree brings a sweetness and earthiness to her role as the grateful peasant who seems to be worth all the flighty girls in town put together!!
Finding a wife doesn't stop the local gossips from jumping to the conclusion that Leslie is the man young Jessie has been seeing clandestinely and when she is found in the river, an obvious suicide the full wrath of "The Order" shows itself against Hatten.
So much happens in just over an hour. Adoree's role is definitely a supporting role but Evelyn Brent has never looked and played to more alluring advantage - it is her movie all the way!! Helen Foster, who played Jessie, did shine for a moment in "Gold Diggers of Broadway" but she became mired in exploitation roles and couldn't really break free!!