Summary
A vibrant riposte to Edwardian prudery and patriarchal constraint, "The Amateur Adventuress" charts the audacious metamorphosis of Norma Wood. Initially shackled to a dreary clerical existence and betrothed to the parsimonious, sanctimonious George Goodie, Norma yearns for a life beyond the ledger. Her liberation begins with a dramatic sartorial rebellion, funded by the unsuspecting, lecherous William Claxtonbury, her employer at the ironically named Working Girls' Welfare Association. Adorned in borrowed finery, Norma plunges into the heady world of metropolitan nightlife, where a chance encounter with the charming Oliver Morley ignites a spark. This burgeoning independence soon takes an unexpected turn when Oliver's affluent, cinephile sister, Mrs. Sentel, enlists Norma in an elaborate, five-thousand-dollar scheme. Her mission: to divert Mrs. Sentel's son, Gregory, from an unsuitably portly paramour, utilizing the dubious wisdom of a "picture vamp's" self-help manual. Norma, a quick study in the art of romantic subterfuge, swiftly captivates Gregory, eliciting a marriage proposal. Yet, amidst this manufactured romance, a profound realization dawns: her heart truly belongs to Oliver. With refreshing candor, she disentangles herself from the charade, confessing her true affections to Oliver, who reciprocates, paving the way for a genuine union born of mutual admiration rather than mercenary machination.
Synopsis
William Claxtonbury, the elderly, lecherous head of the Working Girls' Welfare Association, flirts with his pretty clients and gives plainer applicants an inspirational pamphlet. Claxtonbury's stenographer, Norma Wood, is engaged to George Goodie, a sanctimonious, miserly clerk, who looks forward to her continued employment after their marriage. Determined to have a fling at life, Norma walks out on Goodie and charges a number of gowns to Claxtonbury. In her finery she visits a restaurant, where she meets Oliver Morley. Oliver's sister, Mrs. Sentel, a wealthy widow whose two passions in life are her son Gregory and "the movies," hires Norma for $5,000 to lure Gregory from his portly sweetheart, a delicatessen owner's daughter. Using tips found in How to Win a Man in 48 Hours , written by a "picture vamp," Norma succeeds and Gregory proposes to her. Norma, however, realizes that she has fallen in love with Oliver and confesses all to him. Her love is reciprocated and Norma and Oliver plan to marry.
Review Excerpt
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Stepping back into the flickering glow of early cinema often feels like unearthing a time capsule, a direct portal to the anxieties, aspirations, and evolving social landscapes of a bygone era. The Amateur Adventuress, a 1919 silent film, is precisely one such artifact, yet it resonates with a surprisingly modern cadence, particularly in its astute exploration of female agency and the subversion of societal expectations. Directed by Clarence G. Badger and penned by Thomas Edgelow, ..."
