The Flapper

Alan Crosland: The Flapper (1920). Olive Thomas. Photo: Wikipedia.

Alan Crosland: The Flapper (1920). Olive Thomas. Photo: IMDb.

Alan Crosland: The Flapper (1920). Aleene Bergman, Mildred Cheshire, Katherine Johnston, Dorothy Kent, Eileen Percy, Athole Shearer, Norma Shearer, Olive Thomas, and Barbara Butler. Photo: IMDb.

THE FLAPPER (Selznick / Select, US 1920)
    Dir: Alan Crosland; story & scen: Frances Marion; ph: Jack Brown; cast: Olive Thomas, Theodore Westman, Jr., Katherine Johnston, Arthur Houseman; rel. 10.5.1920.
    Unreleased in Finland.
    35 mm, 5876 ft /18 fps/ 87 min, George Eastman House.
    Grand piano: David Drazin.
    Viewed at Teatro Zancanaro, Sacile, Le Giornate del Cinema Muto (GCM): Fort Lee, 13 Oct 2004.

Richard Koszarski (GCM): "When much of the competition abandoned their New York and New Jersey studios in 1918, Lewis J. Selznick (along with sons Myron and David) was able to take over these stages at bargain rates, and expanded his Select operation tremendously. Before being forced into bankruptcy in 1923, Selznick controlled 2/3 of the studio space in Fort Lee and, with the exception of Famous Players-Lasky, was the most active producer in the East. The Flapper is an obvious but enjoyable commercial package, designed by Frances Marion to alternate thrills, romance, comedy, scenic vistas, and society high life. It is also one of the most successful films of the underrated Alan Crosland, now remembered almost entirely for his direction of Don Juan and The Jazz Singer. Selznick’s top star, Olive Thomas, is obviously enjoying herself in the role of a bright young thing who becomes entangled with a pair of jewel thieves. Unfortunately, she died in Paris of mercury poisoning only four months after the release of this film." – Richard Koszarski (GCM)

AA: I saw the first 15 minutes of the screening. A gorgeous print.

SYNOPSIS FROM WIKIPEDIA:

"Sixteen-year-old Genevieve 'Ginger' King (Thomas) is living in a very wealthy family in the boring town of Orange Springs, Florida, where even having a soda with a boy is considered scandalous. Because of her questionable behavior and yearning for a thrilling life, Ginger's father decides to send her to a boarding school, Mrs. Paddles’ School for Young Ladies, which is administered by strict disciplinarian Mrs. Paddles (Marcia Harris) in Lake Placid, New York."

"Despite the strictness there, the girls have fun getting into flapper-lifestyle trouble including flirting. Richard Channing (William P. Carleton), an older man, rides past the seminary every day, prompting romantic fantasies among the schoolgirls. When Ginger connives a sleigh ride with Channing, she lies to him about her age, saying she is "about twenty". Ginger is quickly charmed and becomes enamored with him. Ginger soon gets into trouble with the headmistress by sneaking out to the local country club where Channing is having a party. One of her schoolmates, Hortense (Katherine Johnston), who is described as “a moth among the butterfies”, informs on her. Hortense’s actual motive for doing this is to get the headmistress out of the way so she can rob the school's safe and flee with her crooked boyfriend Thomas Morran (Arthur Housman). Acting on a vaguely worded note she receives, Ginger—while traveling home from school—goes to a hotel in New York City where Hortense and Thomas are staying. They force her to take some suitcases for safekeeping, cases that contain stolen valuables, including fancy clothes and jewelry."

"Knowing that Channing has gone to Orange Springs on a yachting trip, Ginger decides to use the clothes and jewels to present herself as a more-mature, well-dressed “woman of experience” when she returns home. Her plan backfires, and her father believes she is lying when she says it is all a joke. Detectives then show up wanting to know why she has stolen loot; and both her young admirer Bill and Channing think she has really become a wicked woman. Hortense and her crooked boyfriend now turn up in Orange Springs to reclaim their illgotten loot. Their subsequent capture by the police clears Ginger's name and restores her reputation."

"The events in the lives of Ginger King and another character are presented as incidents in a (non-fiction) newsreel at the end of the movie."