Volume II: Filmography

THE COUNTRY GIRL

June 15, 1915 (Tuesday)

Length: 2 reels (1,660 feet)

Character: Comedy-drama

Director: Frederick Sullivan

Scenario: Adapted from David Garrick's 18th century play of the same name (which in turn was based upon Wycherley's 17th century play, The Country Wife)

Cast: Florence LaBadie (Phyllis, the country girl), Justus D. Barnes (the squire, her guardian), Carey L. Hastings (Alithea, his sister), Claude Cooper (Sparkish, an old beau), Morgan Jones (Harcourt, a young suitor), Harry Benham (Belville, Phyllis' lover), Arthur Bauer, Patti Martin

ADVERTISEMENT, The Moving Picture World, June 19, 1915:

"It will give you the most joyful jolt that ever ran through your box office. Florence LaBadie is the simple little maid who proves to be so very wise, and Harry Benham is the man who wins the coquette. David Garrick wrote this comedy - and it's charming - just charming; that describes it best!"

ARTICLE, The Moving Picture World, June 5, 1915:

"Edwin Thanhouser is beginning to make it evident that he will resume his policy of issuing at intervals a play taken from a book or stage production. The first announcement comes with The Country Girl, a farce comedy which director Sullivan is now engaged on at the Thanhouser studio. The old time theatrical folk will remember this charming little play, which was first given in America at Daly's Theatre, now a landmark of New York City. Miss Ada Rehan appeared in the part of Peggy [sic] when it was first presented here. The Thanhouser version is taken from the story by David Garrick, who rewrote it sometime after it was first produced in 1675 in London [a reference to the Wycherley play]. It is a pithy, fast moving story of an old English squire, who is in love with the too vivacious country girl. She has a great many admirers, for which reason the old fellow announces he will take her to London to marry her. But some of her beaux are not to be thus outwitted, and when the squire arrives in London the simple little country girl becomes a vixen of the most distressing type.

"The situations which follow are very clever, and one of the novelties in the picture is that Miss Florence LaBadie (who plays the title part) dresses in the clothes of a young English youth of that period. Carey Hastings, Harry Benham, Morgan Jones, Justus Barnes, and Claude Cooper make up the fun-loving company, and the heartless little country girl finally marries a young man to her liking. A novelty in the production is the introduction of an epilogue; this is in the form of a speech by the character Peggy, and while she speaks the words appear on the sheet. The Country Girl will be in two reels and will be released on the 15th of June.'"

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, June 5, 1915:

"The Country Girl lives in eighteenth century England. Her old guardian keeps her in seclusion on his country estate, meaning to marry her. She grows to womanhood without ever having seen any young men. When Phyllis is 18, the Squire takes her to London, where she is to be made his wife. His sister, Alithea, goes with them. The Squire intends Alithea for Sparkish, a boon companion of his. In London, Phyllis meets Belville, a handsome youth. They fall in love. Alithea is attracted to young Harcourt, and the idea of marrying their aged suitors becomes unendurable to both the girls. The Squire schemes to break off the affair between his ward and Belville. At his dictation, she writes her lover a note, telling him that she detests him and hopes she may never see him again. But, at the last moment, she substitutes another note she has written, urging Belville to have a minister in readiness so that she may escape and marry him. The Squire delivers the letter. On his return, Phyllis pretends to him that it is not she, but Alithea, who loves Belville. The squire overjoyed, writes Belville his full consent to his marriage 'with this lady,' and Phyllis, disguised in Alithea's mantle, hat and veil, is the bearer of the note. Thus, she keeps the tryst and she and Belville are married. The old Squire has no choice left but to realize that youth must wed with youth. He consents to the marriage, also to that of Alithea and Harcourt."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, June 26, 1915:

"A two-reel version of the famous old play by David Garrick. Peggy's uncle decides to marry his ward and carries her off to London for that purpose. There she meets young Belville and learns to love him. The uncle disguises her in boy's clothes, but love finds a way to evade his scheme. Justus D. Barnes is pleasing as the uncle and Florence LaBadie and Harry Benham play the lovers acceptably. The plot is a good example of an old-style romantic comedy, and some pretty orchard scenes are shown in the first reel. The costuming and other properties of the period have been carefully looked after."

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