The Deciding Kiss

The Deciding Kiss is a 1918 American comedy film directed by Tod Browning. The film was considered a lost film for decades.[1] A print was discovered at the Archives du Film du CNC archive.[2]

The Deciding Kiss
Newspaper advertisement
Directed byTod Browning
Written byBernard McConville
Based onTurn About Eleanor
by Ethel M. Kelly
StarringEdith Roberts
Winifred Greenwood
CinematographyJohn W. Brown
Distributed byUniversal Film Manufacturing Company
Release date
  • July 22, 1918 (1918-07-22)
Running time
5 reels
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

Plot

As described in a film magazine,[3] Eleanor Hamlin (Roberts), who has been living with an old and impoverished couple, is adopted by two couples, Mr. and Mrs. Sears and Beulah Page (Greenwood) and Peter Bolling (Unterkircher), young people who have read of cooperative parenting and wish to try out the theory. It works very well until Jimmy Sears (Cooley) loses control of himself under the spell of his adopted daughter's kisses. This passes, however, but then Peter falls in love with her. Beulah then tells Eleanor that she is engaged to Peter, and the heart-broken little girl goes back home. After an exhaustive search, Peter fails to find her, and he and Beulah complete their engagement. Eleanor returns, sees the true state of things, and asks God to let her be always their little girl.

Cast

Reception

Like many American films of the time, The Deciding Kiss was subject to restrictions and cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors required, in Reel 4, that the kissing scene at the piano be shortened by eliminating the last half.[4]

References
  1. "Progressive Silent Film List: The Deciding Kiss". silentera.com. Retrieved May 5, 2008.
  2. The Library of Congress/FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Deciding Kiss
  3. "Reviews: The Deciding Kiss". Exhibitors Herald. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. 7 (6): 33. August 3, 1918.
  4. "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. 7 (9): 36. August 24, 1918.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.