Summary
The innocent rural idyll of Petersboro becomes a battleground for young love in "The Perils of Petersboro." Alice Day, a charming maid, captures the immediate affection of Danny O'Shea, an artist seeking pastoral inspiration. Their burgeoning romance is swiftly complicated by the meddling antics of Alice’s mischievous brother, Eddie Quillan, and her overprotective father, Joe Young. Joe, disapproving of the swift courtship, banishes Danny and dispatches Alice to the city, hoping to shield her from what he perceives as the 'perils' of her current environment. Ironically, Alice is sent to her Aunt Barbara, who harbors her own matrimonial ambitions for her daughter, Thelma Parr, specifically with the wealthy Danny O'Shea. A calculated setup sees Thelma posing for Danny, with Alice brought along as a deliberate contrast. However, Danny's recognition of Alice derails Aunt Barbara's plans. The situation escalates when Joe Young, discovering a photograph of Danny and Thelma in a city newspaper, realizes his daughter has been inadvertently pushed back into Danny's orbit. He and Eddie race to the city, culminating in a chaotic confrontation at Danny's studio where Eddie's distraction by a group of women, Joe's subsequent "rescue" attempt, and a climactic plunge into a pool pave the way for Danny and Alice's defiant elopement, leaving Joe literally and figuratively 'all wet'.
Synopsis
Alice Day is the pretty maid who wins the heart of Danny O'Shea, a young artist who motors down to Petersboro to paint the scenery. Danny falls in love with Alice at first sight. but the course of true love is sadly disrupted by the pranks of Alice's young brother Eddie Quillan, and her father, Joe Young. Father orders Danny to leave his house and arranges to send Alice to visit her aunt in the city to save her from the perils of Petersboro. Aunt Barbara has a beautiful daughter. Thelma Parr, who, she hopes will marry the wealthy young artist--Danny O'Shea. Thelma is to pose for Danny and Aunt Barbara suggests that she take her little country cousin, Alice, with her so that Thelma may shine by contrast. When Danny recognizes Alice, however, Thelma and everything else is forgotten. In the meantime, Alice's father finds a picture of Thelma and Danny in a city paper, and realizes that he has sent his daughter right back to Danny. He and Eddie start immediately for the city and rush to Danny's studio. On his way into Danny's apartment, Eddie is intercepted by a bevy of pretty girls, who surround him, and in this unexpected predicament is discovered by his frantic parent. After rescuing Eddie from the sirens, Joe rushes into Danny and Alice, after a lively scene, falls into the pool. Danny and Alice make their getaway, calling back to the old man in the water-- "If you think Alice and I aren't going to be married, you're all wet!"
