Summary
In an intricate exploration of moral reformation, "The Five Faults of Flo" meticulously chronicles the titular protagonist's arduous journey from a self-absorbed ingenue to a woman of refined character. Her narrative arc commences with the corrosive grip of excessive pride, starkly illustrated when her snobbish exclusion of a working-class peer from an elite scholastic circle precipitates a near-fatal crisis for the butcher's daughter, a harrowing incident that finally shatters Flo’s haughty self-regard. Subsequently, her burgeoning envy is ignited by the glittering allure of a friend's diamond, an covetousness that ironically dissipates only after she is unjustly implicated in the jewel's theft, her subsequent exoneration serving as a potent antidote to her green-eyed affliction. The specter of fickleness then rears its head, threatening her engagement as a casual flirtation spirals perilously close to a catastrophic automobile accident, a brush with mortality that decisively anchors her wavering affections. Financial imprudence, her fourth major flaw, manifests as a reckless extravagance that pushes her father to the precipice of ruin, forcing Flo to confront the harsh realities of fiscal responsibility and embrace careful stewardship. Finally, the insidious tendrils of jealousy threaten to unravel her nascent marriage, fueled by a misinterpretation of her husband's innocent kindness towards another. The eventual revelation of her error purges this last, most destructive fault, culminating in a Flo who, having shed the burdensome shackles of her five cardinal imperfections, is at last prepared for a harmonious and fulfilling marital existence.
Synopsis
From girlhood through marriage, Flo outgrows five major faults: pride, envy, fickleness, extravagance, and jealousy. First, she gets rid of her excessive pride when the butcher's daughter almost dies after Flo rejects her from an exclusive school club. Then, Flo covets a friend's diamond, but when the jewel is stolen and Flo is falsely accused, her envy vanishes, even though she is cleared of the charge. After her engagement, a brief flirtation almost leads to a fatal car accident that cures Flo of fickleness. Then, when Flo's extravagance comes close to ruining her father, she comes to understand that she must be careful with money. Finally, when Flo realizes that she has mistaken her husband's kindness for an affair with another woman, she loses her jealous streak, and a now-faultless Flo can settle down to a happy married life.
Review Excerpt
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Stepping back into the nascent days of cinema, one occasionally unearths a gem that, despite its vintage, resonates with a surprising universality. The Five Faults of Flo, a creation from the prolific minds of Lloyd and Philip Lonergan, featuring the luminous Florence La Badie, is precisely such a film. It’s not merely a relic; it’s a meticulously crafted moral fable, an episodic character study that, for its era, demonstrates remarkable psychological depth. This isn't a narrative ..."
