The Taliaferro sisters were early stars of the stage and screen. Mabel made her name in films earning the title "the sweetheart of the movies". Edith conquered the stage, originating the role of "Rebecca of Sunny brook Farm" in 1913. She only made 3 films of which "Young Romance" was the first. Even though Cecil B. DeMille has the title of Director General - it feels like the work of William C. de Mille. An intimate little drama of ordinary people, the kind of film William excelled in.
After the beautiful titled introduction, the story begins. Nellie (Edith Taliaferro) of the Notions counter in a city department store reads and dreams of romance. Tom (Tom Forman) who works in the hardware department in the same store is also reading the same romantic serial - he, however, dreams of adventure. Tom decides to live like a gentleman for a week while Nellie decides to live like a lady - also for a week. Nellie finds an advertisement for the Hotel Imperial in the paper while Tom opts for Bellview Mansions (it's more expensive!!) When Tom arrives at his destination he finds it is a real dive and he is not impressed!!
Nellie is posing as Miss Ethel Van Dusen - Tom as Roderick de Vignier, the hero of the romantic serial they had both been reading. They meet at the beach - Nellie is stranded on a rock and he comes to her rescue - just like her serial romance. There is a funny scene at the hotel's restaurant where the waiter is determined to direct them to the most expensive items on the menu!!! On Wednesday friends arrive to see Miss Van Dusen (the real one that is) - so Nellie is ready to flee but when she accidentally bumps into them, it seems they haven't seen her since she was a child, so that is a problem averted.
Count Spagnoli (Al Garcia) is in reality a fortune hunter. There is a bit of mystery - is he being blackmailed by Tom's landlady??? There are not enough titles provided to understand what is going on.He sees an article in the paper that says Miss Van Dusen is to inherit $50,000. He begins to romance her and like a little duffer, she falls for his oily charms. Tom is left out in the cold.The Count invites her out for a ride in his motor boat - he is actually planning to kidnap her until she agrees to give him some of her inheritance. Even when she relents and falsely signs over $10,000 he still leaves her on the island until the cheque is cashed. Tom overhears the Count making his escape - he has already seen Nellie in the motor boat - and forces the evil partner at gunpoint to take him to the island where Nellie is being held captive.
Tom and Nellie have fallen in love but both are afraid that if they tell each other their real circumstances they will lose that love. They go back to their everyday world - still dreaming of their magical holiday. Then Tom is promoted to the Perfume department!!! They fall into each others arms!!! This is a beautiful slice of life about a time that will never come again and it is Highly Recommended!!!
After the beautiful titled introduction, the story begins. Nellie (Edith Taliaferro) of the Notions counter in a city department store reads and dreams of romance. Tom (Tom Forman) who works in the hardware department in the same store is also reading the same romantic serial - he, however, dreams of adventure. Tom decides to live like a gentleman for a week while Nellie decides to live like a lady - also for a week. Nellie finds an advertisement for the Hotel Imperial in the paper while Tom opts for Bellview Mansions (it's more expensive!!) When Tom arrives at his destination he finds it is a real dive and he is not impressed!!
Nellie is posing as Miss Ethel Van Dusen - Tom as Roderick de Vignier, the hero of the romantic serial they had both been reading. They meet at the beach - Nellie is stranded on a rock and he comes to her rescue - just like her serial romance. There is a funny scene at the hotel's restaurant where the waiter is determined to direct them to the most expensive items on the menu!!! On Wednesday friends arrive to see Miss Van Dusen (the real one that is) - so Nellie is ready to flee but when she accidentally bumps into them, it seems they haven't seen her since she was a child, so that is a problem averted.
Count Spagnoli (Al Garcia) is in reality a fortune hunter. There is a bit of mystery - is he being blackmailed by Tom's landlady??? There are not enough titles provided to understand what is going on.He sees an article in the paper that says Miss Van Dusen is to inherit $50,000. He begins to romance her and like a little duffer, she falls for his oily charms. Tom is left out in the cold.The Count invites her out for a ride in his motor boat - he is actually planning to kidnap her until she agrees to give him some of her inheritance. Even when she relents and falsely signs over $10,000 he still leaves her on the island until the cheque is cashed. Tom overhears the Count making his escape - he has already seen Nellie in the motor boat - and forces the evil partner at gunpoint to take him to the island where Nellie is being held captive.
Tom and Nellie have fallen in love but both are afraid that if they tell each other their real circumstances they will lose that love. They go back to their everyday world - still dreaming of their magical holiday. Then Tom is promoted to the Perfume department!!! They fall into each others arms!!! This is a beautiful slice of life about a time that will never come again and it is Highly Recommended!!!