Summary
Puppy Love (1919) functions as a satirical exploration of adolescent yearning and the rigid societal structures of early 20th-century Americana. The narrative arc traces the blossoming affection between Gloria O’Connell and her neighbor, James Oliver—a romance prematurely stifled by parental intervention. In an attempt to dissipate this youthful fervor, Gloria is exiled to a provincial enclave to reside with her three spinster aunts. However, the separation serves only to catalyze James’s ingenuity; he transitions into a journalistic role, infiltrating the same town under the pretext of documenting its disproportionately high population of unwed women. The friction intensifies with the emergence of 'Hippo' Harger, a corpulent rival whose presence instigates a farcical duel of honor. When James’s acerbic exposé regarding the town’s bachelorettes is published, it triggers a localized insurrection, forcing a disillusioned Gloria toward a spiteful union with Harger. The resolution hinges on a kinetic intervention at the justice of the peace, where James reclaims his beloved, ultimately securing a pragmatic reconciliation with their respective families.
Synopsis
Young Gloria O'Connell falls in love with her neighbor, James Oliver. She is sent to a small town to stay with her three spinster aunts, while James becomes a newspaper reporter and arranges to write a story on the town and its large old-maid population. James pursues overweight "Hippo" Harger, a rival for Gloria's affections, and challenges him to a duel. When James' newspaper story appears, the disgruntled old maids hunt down the author. In a fit of anger, Gloria decides to marry "Hippo," but James rescues her at the office of the justice of the peace. The youthful lovers continue their relationship with their parents' understanding.
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