Gretna Green (1915) User Reviews

Miss Clark charms with girlish coquetries

[deickemeyer · 11 November 2019]

Being a piquant little person, equally fetching, whether she smiles or pouts, laughs or flies into a tantrum, Marguerite Clark has no trouble in depicting an English belle of about 100 years ago. Her name is Dolly Erskine, the winsome heroine of "Gretna Green," a play by Grace Livingston Purniss, done into a four-part picture by the Famous Players Film Company. Miss Clark charms with girlish coquetries. She bobs her head and the dark ringlets dance around her shoulders; she stamps her feet and because she is so cute the bursts of temper are attractive. Once she even faints from a too sudden emotion, but for the most part Dolly appears to be a light-hearted young woman, not unlike the suggestion of the name. "Gretna Green." it may be recalled, is the romance of a girl who unwittingly becomes the wife of an earl, then falls in love with him in time to prevent the acceptance of a divorce decree. While Dolly is falling in love, the earl continues to pose as a riding master, and as such wins the heart of his pretty bride. The Scotch marriage law is the pivot of the plot. To save the good name of her sister, Dolly declares that the pseudo riding master is her husband, not realizing that they have crossed the border into Scotland and that the confession of marriage is binding. Gretna Green was a favorite goal for eloping couples in those days and it possessed a suitably idyllic atmosphere, if one may credit the testimony of this picture. The settings, interiors as well as exteriors, are a great addition to the production. There is no escaping the charm of the scenes even when the dramatic or comedy worth of the story is not marked. The costuming, too, aids in creating a correct impression. Excepting the altogether pleasing performance given by Miss Clark, the acting does not call for special comment. Included in a satisfactory cast are Arthur Hoops, Helen Lutrell, W. Merkyl, J. A. Hall and Lester Chambers. - The Moving Picture World, April 3, 1915

Marguerite Clarks's Fourth Film

[PamelaShort · 13 January 2015]

Dolly Erskine, ( Marguerite Clark ) a coquettish young girl is the ward of an English estate owner. She must marry someone titled in order to acquire her inheritance. But Dolly seeing her sister's loveless marriage to Sir William Chetwynde, ( Arthur Hoops ) rebuffs her brother-in-law's attempt to find her a husband. Dolly has fallen in love with her riding master, Richard Murray, ( John Merkyl ) who happens to be the Earl of Basset, and is trying to escape a designing matrons plotting to have him marry their daughters. After hearing him gamble we will win her, the feisty Dolly decides to fool him. Meanwhile, her sister trying to escape her husband's brutality, has run off with Captain Cardiff for Gretna Green, an idyllic haven in northern Scotland where eloping couples traditionally go. Dolly and Richard follow to try and stop them, but when Sir William arrives, Dolly bravely protects her sister by telling him, Richard and her were eloping. Without realizing that according to Scottish law, her announcement immediately makes them married. She decides to divorce Richard, but finally tears up the separation papers, and Richard reveals his real identity.

Gretna Green was a silent romantic comedy based on a Broadway play and directed by Thomas N. Heffron and distributed through Paramount Pictures. It was Marguerite Clark's fourth film and is now sadly presumed lost.