Lois Weber was one of the most influential directors of her day. Initially with dreams of being a concert pianist, for a time she joined an evangelical group and preached on street corners in the poorer areas in Pittsburgh and New York. When she and her husband Phillips Smalley drifted into films her heart was full of causes ie birth control, fighting civic corruption, that she wanted to bring to the publics attention. She advocated eugenics in "Where Are My Children" and the establishing scenes showed (in Miss Weber's view) the deterioration of human beings due to the proliferation of the lower classes and pleaded a case for birth control, even safe, legalized abortions. Eugenics was a belief in race purity and that only the healthiest and fittest in mind and body should have children - as typified in the film by Richard Walton's (Tyrone Power Snr.) sister and husband, also by the family next door that Walton longingly looks at. He is not so lucky - he and his wife are childless, she compensates with having several small dogs but as the film progresses it is shown that the wife loves her frivolous, lazy lifestyle - hence their childless state!!
In a particularly shocking sequence, a young wife in her set finds she is expecting and Mrs. Walton casually suggests a Doctor Malfit who will get her out of her predicament. They go to the doctor's, a distraught woman is sitting there but Mrs. Walton seems completely at home, making the viewer realise that she has been there before!!
Mrs. Walton's shifty looking brother arrives at the same time as the housekeeper's sweet daughter. Needless to say Lillian is swept off her feet by the glib talking brother and of course when she finds out the worst, brother eagerly implores sister to give him the name of that doctor!! Alas Lillian only lives long enough to tell her mother the truth!! and Walton moves quickly to bring the evil doctor to trial. When the sentence of 15 years is read out, the wild doctor names names - pointing the finger at Mrs. Walton's involvement. Walton returns home to a house full of luncheon guests - many of whom, reading from Malfit's private ledgers have made use of his personal services. With a "I should bring you all to trial for manslaughter" he banishes them before accusing his wife - "where are my children"!!
At the time "back alley" abortions were common and often the cause of some women's future inability to have children so Weber, who was also an admirer of birth control advocate Margaret Sanger, was keen to make a powerful message film. Even though it was banned in Pennsylvania it played to packed houses in Atlantic City. Celebrated stage actor Tyrone Power Snr. along with his then wife Helen Riaume (parents of Tyrone Power) played the Waltons, Marie Walcamp who became a Universal serial queen plays the young matron who is given the name of Mrs. Walton's doctor and Mary MacLaren, soon to be given the lead in Lois Weber's sensational "Shoes" makes her debut as a young housemaid.
Highly Recommended.
In a particularly shocking sequence, a young wife in her set finds she is expecting and Mrs. Walton casually suggests a Doctor Malfit who will get her out of her predicament. They go to the doctor's, a distraught woman is sitting there but Mrs. Walton seems completely at home, making the viewer realise that she has been there before!!
Mrs. Walton's shifty looking brother arrives at the same time as the housekeeper's sweet daughter. Needless to say Lillian is swept off her feet by the glib talking brother and of course when she finds out the worst, brother eagerly implores sister to give him the name of that doctor!! Alas Lillian only lives long enough to tell her mother the truth!! and Walton moves quickly to bring the evil doctor to trial. When the sentence of 15 years is read out, the wild doctor names names - pointing the finger at Mrs. Walton's involvement. Walton returns home to a house full of luncheon guests - many of whom, reading from Malfit's private ledgers have made use of his personal services. With a "I should bring you all to trial for manslaughter" he banishes them before accusing his wife - "where are my children"!!
At the time "back alley" abortions were common and often the cause of some women's future inability to have children so Weber, who was also an admirer of birth control advocate Margaret Sanger, was keen to make a powerful message film. Even though it was banned in Pennsylvania it played to packed houses in Atlantic City. Celebrated stage actor Tyrone Power Snr. along with his then wife Helen Riaume (parents of Tyrone Power) played the Waltons, Marie Walcamp who became a Universal serial queen plays the young matron who is given the name of Mrs. Walton's doctor and Mary MacLaren, soon to be given the lead in Lois Weber's sensational "Shoes" makes her debut as a young housemaid.
Highly Recommended.