"A Character Study" of a lowly orange-selling Englishwoman, who uses her cleavage and humor to captivate the King of England. Director Herbert Wilcox would remake the story, more successfully, as an Anna Neagle talking picture. This production catches Dorothy Gish (as Nell Gwyn) nearing the end of her successful career as a major silent star, unfortunately; her comic sex appeal is prominently displayed.
Ms. Gish and others are directed to cavort and/or emote excessively. After Gish moves into the castle, as King Randle Ayrton (as Charles)'s mistress, she uses her "power" to do good deeds (presumably, showing the "character" promised earlier). A relatively good scene features Gish and low-cut dress rival Juliette Compton (as Castlemaine) fuming over the King.
The ending suggests this "Nell Gwyn" might have been intended as a love story. Earlier, "Nell" states she loves the King, and a sexual relationship is certainly presumed; however, the two never appear to be "in love". More importantly, what happened to "Nell", and her career as an actress, after the end of the movie? In the end, she seems only to have been important as a King's play-thing.
*** Nell Gwyn (7/18/26) Herbert Wilcox ~ Dorothy Gish, Randle Ayrton, Juliette Compton