''The Way of a Man with a Maid'' is a 1918 American silent

comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...

film directed by

Donald Crisp Donald William Crisp (27 July 188225 May 1974) was an English film actor as well as an early producer, director and screenwriter. His career lasted from the early silent film era into the 1960s. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor ...

and written by Ida M. Evans and Edith M. Kennedy. The film stars Bryant Washburn, Wanda Hawley, Fred Goodwins, Clarence Geldart, Jay Dwiggins, and Bessie Eyton. The film was released on December 29, 1918, by Paramount Pictures.

Plot

As described in a

film magazine Film periodicals combine discussion of individual films, genres and directors with in-depth considerations of the medium and the conditions of its production and reception. Their articles contrast with film reviewing in newspapers and magazines whi ...

, bookkeeper Arthur McArney (Washburn) attempts to live the life of a man about town on $21 a week. He meets Elsa Owenson (Hawley), a pretty stenographer, and falls desperately in love. His rival for her is Sankey, a wealthy broker, whose prodigality puts Arthur in the shade. He has trouble keeping up his end of the contest for Elsa's hand as his taxi and restaurant bills appear staggering to him and his kitten, for whom he traded a ukulele. He arranges a date with Elsa, but then must break it when he is called upon by Hallet (Geldart), his office manager, to work late at night. After Sankey refers to him as a "three dollar a week clerk with rundown heels", Arthur mortgages his salary for weeks and invests $200 in fashionable clothing. The first time he can wear them is for an engagement to escort Elsa to a Halloween party, but again he is called upon to work late at his office. However, he is rewarded with a promotion to a $4,000 a year position. He escorts Elsa home from the party and when he cheerfully pays $10 for their taxi ride, she protests that it could purchase new furniture in their home. But with a new job with increased salary and the prospect of a beautiful bride, Arthur asks, "Why worry about trifles?"

Cast

Reception

Like many American films of the time, ''The Way of a Man with a Maid'' was subject to restrictions and cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors required a cut, in Reel 1, of a closeup of currency and a closeup of coins.

References

External links

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Film stills
at silenthollywood.com 1918 films 1910s English-language films Silent American comedy films 1918 comedy films Paramount Pictures films Films directed by Donald Crisp American black-and-white films American silent feature films 1910s American films {{1910s-comedy-film-stub