Summary
In a meticulously orchestrated charade of financial ruin, the shrewd steel magnate Theodore Morton orchestrates his own ostensible bankruptcy. His grand design? To deftly repel the avaricious advances of two European fortune-hunters, Lord Dormer and the Duke of Medonia, who relentlessly pursue his unsuspecting niece, Betty. Once these opportunistic suitors are summarily dispatched, the narrative pivots to Carl Gates, a man of dubious scruples. Gates, privy to Theodore's deception through his fiancée, Adele Shelby—a conniving banker's secretary—swiftly shifts his predatory gaze toward Betty. Naively believing that her union with Carl will somehow salvage her uncle's purported financial woes, Betty accepts his proposal. However, fate, or perhaps narrative convenience, intervenes during a yachting excursion. Betty, in an unforeseen turn, tumbles overboard, only to be dramatically rescued by Tom Waring, a dashing architect simultaneously competing in a high-stakes race. His unexpected passenger propels him to victory, igniting an immediate and fervent romance between rescuer and rescued. As this nascent affection blossoms, Adele, realizing the full extent of Carl's duplicity, exposes his machinations to Theodore. Seizing this opportune moment, the magnate, in concert with his banker, devises an elaborate scheme to financially devastate Carl in the stock market, netting a substantial $700,000. This windfall is then strategically offered to Adele, contingent upon her marrying her now-disgraced and unfaithful fiancé, a proposition she readily accepts, thereby extricating Betty from her ill-fated engagement and clearing the path for her rightful union with Tom.
Synopsis
During a lawn party at his New York home, steel magnate Theodore Morton claims that he is bankrupt to deter Lord Dormer and the Duke of Medonia, two fortune-hunters competing for his niece Betty. After the suitors depart, unscrupulous Carl Gates is informed by his fiancée, banker's secretary Adele Shelby, that Theodore was lying. Carl pursues Betty, who accepts his proposal with the belief that the marriage will benefit her uncle. During a yachting expedition with Carl, Betty falls overboard and is rescued by architect Tom Waring, who is competing in a race. Tom wins with Betty on board, and a romance develops. Adele learns of Carl's deceit and informs Theodore, who conspires with his banker to ruin Carl in the stock market. The scheme earns them $700,000, which they offer to Adele if she marries her unfaithful fiancé. She accepts, leaving Betty free to marry Tom.
Review Excerpt
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Unveiling the Charms of Bringing Up Betty: A Silent Era Scrutiny
Venturing into the archives of early 20th-century cinema, one often stumbles upon forgotten treasures that, despite their age, resonate with surprising contemporary relevance. Bringing Up Betty, a 1918 silent film, is precisely such a find. Directed by Lyster Chambers and penned by the collaborative talents of Clara Beranger and Charles Sarver, this picture is far more than a mere historical artifact; it's a vibrant tapestry ..."
