Polly Ann

Polly Ann
Bessie Love in the film
Directed by	Charles Miller
Written by	J. G. Hawks R. Cecil Smith
Produced by	Triangle Film Corporation
Starring	Bessie Love
Cinematography	Henry Bredesen
Distributed by	Triangle Film Corporation
Release date	September 9, 1917 (1917-09-09) (U.S.)
Running time	5 reels
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

Polly Ann (also known as The Little Reformer^[1] and Pernickety Polly Ann^[2][3]) is a lost 1917 American silent comedy-drama film produced and distributed by the Triangle Film Corporation. It was directed by Charles Miller and stars Bessie Love.^[4]

Plot

Bessie Love as Polly Ann

In rural New Hampshire, Orphan Polly Ann (Love) leaves the poor farm to work at the village tavern, run by Jud Simpkins (Lockney). When a traveling theater troupe comes to town, actor Hubert de Courcey (Foss) convinces Polly Ann to become an actress and leave with them. Village schoolteacher Howard Straightlane (Lee) intervenes, and takes Polly Ann under his wing. When a sick relative in Boston sends for Polly Ann, she goes to care for the relative, and nurses him back to health. When she learns that this relative and Howard are uncle and nephew, Polly Ann facilitates a reunion between them. The uncle then gives his blessing for Polly Ann and Howard to marry.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10]}

Cast

The cast in a scene from the film

• Bessie Love as Polly Ann
• J. P. Lockney as Simpkins
• Rowland V. Lee as Howard Straightlane
• William Ellingford as Squire Bacon
• Darrell Foss as Hubert de Courcey
• Alfred Hollingsworth as Junius Trewalker
• Josephine Headley as Mrs. Porter
• Walt Whitman as Jacob Straightline^[7]

Reception

Although the plot was considered unoriginal by its reviewers,^[9] the film did well at the box office.^[11]

References

1. Ryan, Charles H. (October 27, 1917). "What the Picture Did for Me". Motography. Vol. 18, no. 17. p. 856.
2. "Checklist 85 – Bessie Love". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 39, no. 456. London. January 1, 1972. p. 43.
3. "Triangle, Full Speed Ahead". Motography. Vol. 18, no. 7. August 18, 1917. p. 346.
4. Hanson, Patricia King, ed. (1988). The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States: Feature Films 1911–1920. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-06301-3.
5. "Reviews: Polly Ann". Exhibitors Herald. Vol. 5, no. 13. New York: Exhibitors Herald Company. September 22, 1917. pp. 25–26.
6. "Bessie Love in 'Polly Ann'". The Moving Picture World. September 1, 1917. p. 1360.
7. "Triangle Film Corp". The Moving Picture World. September 29, 1917. p. 2049.
8. "A Pair of Triangles". The Moving Picture World. September 22, 1917. p. 1857.
9. "Moving Pictures". Variety. September 1917. p. 34.
10. "Ready-Made Ad-Talks". Motion Picture News. Vol. 16, no. 12. September 22, 1917. p. 1992.
11. Miller, E.C. (September 29, 1917). "What the Picture Did for Me". Motography. Vol. 18, no. 13. p. 643.

External links

• Polly Ann at IMDb
• Polly Ann at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films