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''Refining Fires'' is a 1915 American silent short
A man named John Alstrom hopes to inherit money from his uncle falls in love with a woman (Mary) of lower socioeconomic status. Alstrom convinces the woman to live with him until he can collect his inheritance and marry her. He does not initially marry her for fear that he will lose out on his inheritance because the woman has no money. After a short time the woman decides that John Alstrom is acting different so she leaves him. Mary eventually finds employment with a man named Judge Stone and she is hired as a companion to the Judge's daughter (Nina). Eventually John Alstrom comes into his inheritance and Nina finds him and falls in love with him. The two plan to marry. Mary wants to tell Nina the truth about John but changes her mind at the last minute. Mary leaves and becomes a
drama film
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...
directed by Tom Ricketts
Thomas B. Ricketts (15 January 1853 – 19 January 1939) was an English-born American stage actor, stage and motion picture, film actor and film director, director who was a pioneer in the film industry. He portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge in the fi ...
. The story is about a man and a woman from different socioeconomic backgrounds who live together before marriage. The man and woman break up and the woman's life is changed forever.
Background
The film was released on January 18, 1915 and stars Harry Van Meter,Charlotte Burton
Charlotte E. Burton (May 30, 1881 – March 28, 1942) was an American silent film actress.
Biography
Early life and education
Charlotte E. Burton was born on May 30, 1881, in San Francisco, California. However there is some debate ...
, Jean Durrell
Jean Durrell was an American silent film actress. She starred in shorter films in the early silent era between 1913 and 1915. She starred with Charlotte Burton in short films such as ''While There's Life'' and '' Through the Neighbor's Window''.
...
, Louise Lester
Louise Lester (August 8, 1867 – November 18, 1952) was an American silent film actress. She was the first female star of Western films.
Biography
Lester was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 8, 1867.
In 1884, Lester headed the Louis ...
, Jack Richardson, and Vivian Rich
Vivian Rich (May 26, 1893 – November 17, 1957) was an American silent film actress.
Career
Rich was born in Philadelphia and spent her early years there. Later the family moved to Boston and she completed her education at the Boston Latin Hi ...
. The film was directed by Tom Ricketts
Thomas B. Ricketts (15 January 1853 – 19 January 1939) was an English-born American stage actor, stage and motion picture, film actor and film director, director who was a pioneer in the film industry. He portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge in the fi ...
.
Plot
A man named John Alstrom hopes to inherit money from his uncle falls in love with a woman (Mary) of lower socioeconomic status. Alstrom convinces the woman to live with him until he can collect his inheritance and marry her. He does not initially marry her for fear that he will lose out on his inheritance because the woman has no money. After a short time the woman decides that John Alstrom is acting different so she leaves him. Mary eventually finds employment with a man named Judge Stone and she is hired as a companion to the Judge's daughter (Nina). Eventually John Alstrom comes into his inheritance and Nina finds him and falls in love with him. The two plan to marry. Mary wants to tell Nina the truth about John but changes her mind at the last minute. Mary leaves and becomes a nun
A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service and contemplation, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent.''The Oxford English Dictionary'', vol. X, page 5 ...
.
Cast
* Harry Van Meter as John Alstrom *Vivian Rich
Vivian Rich (May 26, 1893 – November 17, 1957) was an American silent film actress.
Career
Rich was born in Philadelphia and spent her early years there. Later the family moved to Boston and she completed her education at the Boston Latin Hi ...
as Mary
* Jack Richardson as Judge Stone
* Charlotte Burton
Charlotte E. Burton (May 30, 1881 – March 28, 1942) was an American silent film actress.
Biography
Early life and education
Charlotte E. Burton was born on May 30, 1881, in San Francisco, California. However there is some debate ...
as Nina - the judge's daughter
* Louise Lester
Louise Lester (August 8, 1867 – November 18, 1952) was an American silent film actress. She was the first female star of Western films.
Biography
Lester was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 8, 1867.
In 1884, Lester headed the Louis ...
as Sister Superior
* Jean Durrell
Jean Durrell was an American silent film actress. She starred in shorter films in the early silent era between 1913 and 1915. She starred with Charlotte Burton in short films such as ''While There's Life'' and '' Through the Neighbor's Window''.
...
* Mrs.Tom Ricketts (i.e. Josephine Ditt
Josephine Ditt, born on September 7, 1868, in Chicago and died on October 18, 1939, in Los Angeles, was a film actress in the United States. She appeared in numerous silent films and married actor and director Tom Ricketts. Her role in ''Damaged Go ...
) as Florence
Reception
On February 15, 1915 TheSouth Bend News-Times
The ''South Bend News-Times'' was a daily newspaper in South Bend, Indiana, in the United States, from 1913 to 1938.
The ''News-Times'' was formed on June 2, 1913, through a merger of the ''South Bend Times'' and ''South Bend News''.
The Times h ...
summarized the film as a two reel feature in which "A girl makes a mistake and suffers the consequences, but the lesson taught is a good one. It is a plain subject well handled."
References
External links
*{{IMDb title, 0495412 1915 films 1915 drama films Silent American drama short films American black-and-white films 1915 short films Films directed by Tom Ricketts 1910s American films 1910s English-language films English-language drama short films