''The Fair Pretender'' is a 1918 American silent

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 Charles Miller. It stars

Madge Kennedy Madge Kennedy (April 19, 1891 – June 9, 1987) was a stage, film and television actress whose career began as a stage actress in 1912 and flourished in motion pictures during the silent film era. In 1921, journalist Heywood Broun described her ...

, Tom Moore, and Robert Walker, and was released on May 18, 1918.

Plot

Sylvia Maynard is a typist in producer Townsend's office. To prove to him that she has acting ability, she goes to a society party, posing as "Mrs. Brown", the widow of a war hero. There, she meets several people, including Don Meredith, a playwright who is also posing as someone else, and Ramon Gonzales, a Brazilian who is, unbeknownst to the others at the party, a German spy. Things are going well, and Don and Sylvia begin falling for one another, when suddenly Captain Milton Brown shows up. Don is crestfallen, and Sylvia is mortified, but Major Brown is more than willing to let the beautiful young woman continue her masquerade has his non-existent wife. Eventually, the entire scenario becomes too much for her, and she flees the party, but runs into Ramon on the train. She discovers that he has stolen important documents from the party's host, and she in turn steals them from him, returning to her apartment. Ramon tracks her down, but at the last moment, Don arrives and saves her.

Cast list

as Sylvia Maynard * Tom Moore as Don Meredith * Robert Walker as Harcourt * Paul Doucet as Ramon Gonzales * Wilmer Walter as Captain Milton Brown *

Emmett King Emmett Carleton King (May 31, 1865 – April 21, 1953) was an American actor of the stage and screen. Biography King began his acting career on stage. His first Broadway appearance was in 1899, in the farce, ''The Father of His Country'', which ...

as Townsend * John Terry as Freddie * Charles Slattery as Barnum *

Florence Billings Florence Billings (born 1895) was an American film actress of the silent era.Goble p. 131 Selected filmography * '' The Spreading Dawn'' (1917) * '' By Right of Purchase'' (1918) * ''The Fair Pretender'' (1918) * ''Woman'' (1918) * '' A Romance ...

as Marjorie Townsend * Grace Stevens as Mrs. Townsend

Reception

The ''

New York Herald The ''New York Herald'' was a large-distribution newspaper based in New York City that existed between 1835 and 1924. At that point it was acquired by its smaller rival the '' New-York Tribune'' to form the '' New York Herald Tribune''. Hi ...

'' gave the film a very good review, "Madge Kennedy is a cinema synonym for excellence, and her latest picture, "The Fair Pretender", is no exception to the rule. She is as delightful as ever." They also complimented the acting of Tom Moore, especially the love scenes between the two. ''

The Houston Post The ''Houston Post'' was a newspaper that had its headquarters in Houston, Texas, United States. In 1995, the newspaper shut down, and its assets were purchased by the ''Houston Chronicle''. History Gail Borden Johnson founded the ''Houston P ...

'' called the film a "sparkling comedy" and said, "Madge Kennedy, Goldwin icStar, Makes Hit In New Play". ''

The Sentinel-Record The ''Hot Springs Sentinel-Record'' is a newspaper in Hot Springs, Arkansas Hot Springs is a resort city in the state of Arkansas and the county seat of Garland County, Arkansas, Garland County. The city is located in the Ouachita Mountains ...

'' gave the picture a glowing review, calling it a "wonderful production". They extolled the film's star, "Fresh from her triumph in 'The Danger Game', in which she established herself once and for all as the princess royal of screen stars, Madge Kennedy Comes again to delight in 'The Fair Pretender', her newest Goldwyn photoplay. She is given ample opportunity in her latest starring vehicle to demonstrate her infinite variety and to captivate with her daintiness and charm. '' The Evening Mail'' also enjoyed the picture, extolling Kennedy's performance, "Madge Kennedy is seen at her best in her fifth Goldwyn production.

Preservation status

*This film is listed as surviving in the Spanish archive: Instituto Valenciano De Cinematografia,

Valencia, Spain Valencia ( , ), formally València (), is the capital of the Province of Valencia, province and Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Valencian Community, the same name in Spain. It is located on the banks of the Turia (r ...

.The Library of Congress/FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog:''The Fair Pretender''
Wayback Machine)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Fair Pretender American silent feature films Silent American drama films 1918 drama films 1918 films Films directed by Charles Miller American black-and-white films 1910s American films