A FOOL THERE WAS (Fox Films, 1915), directed by Frank Powell, subtitled "a psychological drama," is vintage silent melodrama dealing with the life and destruction of a respectable family man. Suggested on the poem by Rudyard Kipling, it made an overnight success of a young unknown named Theda Bara. With so few of her movies in existence today, and a handful of them (all for Fox Films) from 1915 to 1919, A FOOL THERE WAS not only became the movie for which Bara is most remembered but the only one to date to become available for viewing, either on cable television (American Movie Classics in 1997) or on DVD format.
The predictable story by today's standards introduces John Schuyler (Edward Jose), a wealthy lawyer, statesman and happily married man to Kate (Mabel Framyear) with daughter (Runa Hodges) he adores. During the course of plot development and introduction to other characters, namely Kate's sister (May Allison), his best friend, Tom (Clifford Bruce); family doctor (Frank Powell) and doctor's fiancee (Minna Gale), John receives a telegram offering him a position as representative of the United States Government stationed in England. Due to an accident involving her sister, Kate is unable to accompany John and allows him to board ship to England alone and accompany him later. In the meantime, a woman known solely as "The Vamp" (Theda Bara) who had driven many past lovers to destruction, having earlier noticed Schuyler in the park with his family and reading a newspaper clipping of his venture to England board the Gigantic, decides to board passage on the same boat to make her presence known. When Paramalee (Victor Benoit), her latest plaything learns of this, learns of this, he intends to follow her with the intent to kill, but kills himself instead. By the time Schuyler comes to England, he becomes the Vamp's latest victim. Forgetting his job position, he ventures to Italy with her only to be noticed secretly by his doctor and wife on their honeymoon. After their silence is broken to Kate, things become quite complicated for John upon his return home to Larchmont, New York.
Though the legacy of Theda Bara rests on A FOOL THERE WAS, along with her catch phrase, "Kiss me, you fool" being the most famous title card line in silent film history, it's hard to determine Bara's additional film roles considering how the majority of them no longer exist today. How fortunate this 1915 edition is still available while its 1922 remake bearing the same title starring Estelle Taylor and Lewis Stone, according to sources, no longer exists for comparison viewing. As much as Theda Bara never starred in a talkie, how interesting had she appeared in just one, possibly a remake of A FOOL THERE WAS. Possibly by 1930 this particular story and characters would have been totally out of date but what a great opportunity to get to see as well as hear Theda Bara's voice recorded on film. One could simply feel it wasn't meant to be.
A FOOL THERE WAS at 65 minutes, accompanied by Phil Calli piano score, is currently available either on DVD or on demand through MGM Plus cable channel. Considering the lack of close-up shots and limited camera movement, the film is worth viewing for the rediscovery of the Theda Bara name. (***)
The predictable story by today's standards introduces John Schuyler (Edward Jose), a wealthy lawyer, statesman and happily married man to Kate (Mabel Framyear) with daughter (Runa Hodges) he adores. During the course of plot development and introduction to other characters, namely Kate's sister (May Allison), his best friend, Tom (Clifford Bruce); family doctor (Frank Powell) and doctor's fiancee (Minna Gale), John receives a telegram offering him a position as representative of the United States Government stationed in England. Due to an accident involving her sister, Kate is unable to accompany John and allows him to board ship to England alone and accompany him later. In the meantime, a woman known solely as "The Vamp" (Theda Bara) who had driven many past lovers to destruction, having earlier noticed Schuyler in the park with his family and reading a newspaper clipping of his venture to England board the Gigantic, decides to board passage on the same boat to make her presence known. When Paramalee (Victor Benoit), her latest plaything learns of this, learns of this, he intends to follow her with the intent to kill, but kills himself instead. By the time Schuyler comes to England, he becomes the Vamp's latest victim. Forgetting his job position, he ventures to Italy with her only to be noticed secretly by his doctor and wife on their honeymoon. After their silence is broken to Kate, things become quite complicated for John upon his return home to Larchmont, New York.
Though the legacy of Theda Bara rests on A FOOL THERE WAS, along with her catch phrase, "Kiss me, you fool" being the most famous title card line in silent film history, it's hard to determine Bara's additional film roles considering how the majority of them no longer exist today. How fortunate this 1915 edition is still available while its 1922 remake bearing the same title starring Estelle Taylor and Lewis Stone, according to sources, no longer exists for comparison viewing. As much as Theda Bara never starred in a talkie, how interesting had she appeared in just one, possibly a remake of A FOOL THERE WAS. Possibly by 1930 this particular story and characters would have been totally out of date but what a great opportunity to get to see as well as hear Theda Bara's voice recorded on film. One could simply feel it wasn't meant to be.
A FOOL THERE WAS at 65 minutes, accompanied by Phil Calli piano score, is currently available either on DVD or on demand through MGM Plus cable channel. Considering the lack of close-up shots and limited camera movement, the film is worth viewing for the rediscovery of the Theda Bara name. (***)
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