Neptune's Nieces

Neptune's Nieces (1925) is less a narrative film and more a kinetic celebration of the mid-twenties 'Bathing Beauty' phenomenon. The plot centers on a group of spirited young women—the titular nieces—who descend upon the coastline for a day of sun-drenched recreation and choreographed chaos. As they navigate the surf and the boardwalk, their presence triggers a series of slapstick misunderstandings with the local male population. The film functions as a rhythmic sequence of vignettes, moving from athletic displays of swimming to the frantic, physical comedy typical of the Christie Film Company's output. It is a story of leisure as a form of rebellion, capturing a specific moment in American history where the beach became a stage for the modern, liberated 'New Woman.'