''Social Briars'' is a 1918 American silent

comedy-drama film Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, illness, betrayal, grief, etc. ...

directed by Henry King and starring

Mary Miles Minter Mary Miles Minter (born Juliet Reilly; April 25, 1902Louisiana Birth Certificate, Caddo Parish, No. 119, Book A, Page 97, Birth Date: April 25, 1902, Name: Mary M. Reilly ic – Original Caddo birth record was recorded as "J.H. Riley's Child" ...

. The story was by Jeanne Judson, and it was filmed under the working title of "The Greater Call." As with many of Minter's features, it is thought to be a

lost film A lost film is a feature film, feature or short film in which the original negative or copies are not known to exist in any studio archive, private collection, or public archive. Films can be wholly or partially lost for a number of reasons. ...

.The Library of Congress/FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: ''Social Briars''
/ref>

Plot

As described in various

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 ...

reviews, Iris Lee (Minter) is an orphan girl who lives in a little country town with Martha Kane (Andrews). She plays the organ and sings at the village Sunday school, where Mrs. Kane's son Jim (Cobb) teaches. Jim is in love with Iris, but Iris dreams of being a famous singer in the city. The only people who take her ambitions seriously are her neighbours, Mr. and Mrs. Brown (Abrams and Davenport). One day, Iris packs up and decides to head for the city to seek her fame and fortune. She misses the train, but is offered a ride from a passing stranger, Jack Andrews (Forrest), a wealthy young city man. He flirts with her in the car and Iris, feeling uncomfortable, jumps out and waits for a later train. When she arrives in the city, she struggles to find a way to earn a living, but one day she is walking past a church and, upon hearing the choir, decides to enter and join in. Her voice catches the attention of Peter Andrews (Periolat), who happens to be Jack's father, and she is given the position of soloist at the church. One night while singing at the church, Iris is overheard by Helen Manning (Du Brey), a light opera star, who takes Iris on as her understudy. When Helen is dropped from the opera for refusing the advances of her manager Franklin (Whitson), Iris is promoted to the prima donna role. Jack has seen Iris performing with the opera and has fallen in love with her, but when he enters her dressing room drunk one night, Iris sends him away. Disillusioned with fame and with the city, Iris returns to the country town and takes up her old position at the Sunday school. Jack, having sobered up and taken on a proper job as a travelling salesman for his father's business, follows her there. He manages to persuade Iris of his sincerity, and the two are engaged to wed.

Cast

as Iris Lee *

Allan Forrest Allan Forrest Fisher (September 1, 1885 – July 25, 1941) was an American silent film actor. Life and career Allan Forrest Fisher starred in 119 films, mostly silent, between 1913 and 1932. He appeared in films such as '' The Torch Bearer'', ...

as Jack Andrews *

Anne Schaefer Anne Schaefer (July 10, 1870 – May 3, 1957) was an American actress. She appeared in 147 films between 1911 and 1938. She was the aunt of fellow actresses Eva and Jane Novak. Schaefer was born to German parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Schafer ...

as Martha Kane *

Edmund Cobb Edmund Fessenden Cobb (June 23, 1892 – August 15, 1974) was an American actor who appeared in more than 620 films between 1912 and 1966. Biography Cobb was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the son of William Henry Cobb and Eddie (Edmun ...

as Jim Kane *

George Periolat George Periolat (February 5, 1874 – February 20, 1940) was an American actor. Biography Born in Chicago, Illinois, George Periolat began his career as a Broadway theatre, Broadway actor. Making his film debut with the Essanay Studios in Chic ...

as Peter Andrews *

Claire Du Brey Claire Du Brey (born Clara Violet Dubreyvich, August 31, 1892 – August 1, 1993) was an American actress. She appeared in more than 200 films from 1916 to 1959. Her name is sometimes rendered as Claire Du Bray or as Claire Dubrey. Early y ...

as Helen Manning *

Milla Davenport Milla Davenport (February 4, 1871 in Zurich – May 17, 1936) was an American stage and film actress who first appeared with the repertory company of her husband, actor Harry J. Davenport (1870-1929), for fifteen years. Davenport then began a ...

as Mrs. Brown *Jacob Abrams as Mr. Brown *

Frank Whitson Frank Whitson (March 22, 1877 – March 19, 1946) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1915 and 1937. He was born in New York, New York, and died in Los Angeles, California. Whitson performed in vaudeville and i ...

as Franklin

References

External links

* 1918 films 1918 comedy-drama films American silent feature films American black-and-white films Films directed by Henry King American Film Company films 1910s English-language films 1910s American films Silent American comedy-drama films English-language comedy-drama films {{silent-comedy-drama-film-stub