'Tween Two Loves (1911) User Reviews

Every scene throbs with the realities of human existence

[deickemeyer · 10 April 2016]

The story does not reveal much of interest. But the producer and the performers have deftly clothed the skeleton with the habiliments of life until every scene throbs with the realities of human existence. Much is to be said of the completeness of the scenic effects and of the good photography, which contribute to the excellence of this picture in no small degree, but it is the unmistakable touch of human interest, at times most absorbing, upon which its claim for consideration most solidly rests. Much good photography and expensive settings have been wasted upon lifeless situations, but no such charge can be brought against this production. Though a commonplace chapter from the book of life it is not without its thrilling moments. When the mother enters the burning house to rescue her baby, one fairly holds one's breath until she staggers out with the child in her arms. This scene has been ably handled, the simulation of a house on fire being so real that one fairly trembles for the safety of the mother as she gropes her way to the cradle through the smoke. Indeed, one almost forgets that it is a picture. As portrayed the story makes a strong demand upon the sympathies. The girl and her lover are not to be denied their happiness, yet one cannot fully condemn the lonely father who has lost the one object of his love, his only daughter. It is a selfish trait of human nature, but one that is of frequent occurrence. But, if the father seems to be unnecessarily obdurate, it must be remembered that the man who wishes to marry his daughter is but a farm hand, possibly unknown to him, in which case he would be justified in opposing the marriage to the last. The character depicted being the stolid, determined type of man, it follows naturally that he should refuse to forgive and to answer the appeal of his daughter in her moment of dire need. Such unrelenting characters are not unknown, albeit they seem to be extremely severe. That he has a heart, proof is given in the final scene, when father and daughter are once more united. There is a noticeable absence of superfluous sentimentality with which some producers would burden a story of this kind. Only one discreet love scene is given, for which the producer has our thanks. There is also a death scene which is robbed of much of the customary horrors by the omission of the agonizing throes of final dissolution, a treatment of an unpleasant subject that is highly commendable. As a whole, the production is of the highest class and marks a distinct advance in the character of the work of the Imp Company. - The Moving Picture World, September 16, 1911

An Early Example of the Ince-Pickford Collaboration

[briantaves · 15 October 2011]

'Tween Two Loves (Imp, reissued as The Stronger Love), a widower (J. Farrell MacDonald) refuses to remarry so he can be close to his daughter, Grace. However, in time she (now played by Mary Pickford) wants a life of her own, and falls in love with George (William E. Shay), a stranger who comes to work in their house, despite her father's wishes.

Forced by her father to choose between them, she goes away with George, and two years later they have a child. However, George dies of sunstroke while working as a field hand, and then their cabin catches fire. Grace, destitute, must return to her father with her child. The family, briefly sundered by another love, is ultimately brought back together. Neither Ince nor Pickford were particularly satisfied with such films, but they allowed Ince to learn his craft, as I outline in my biography of him.