Summary
A compelling narrative of burgeoning social consciousness and the perils of ideological zealotry, "The Uplifters" meticulously chronicles the trajectory of Hortense Troutt, a diligent stenographer for the industrial magnate Saul Shilpick, Sr. Her existence, seemingly mundane yet tethered to the machinery of commerce, is irrevocably altered by the magnetic rhetoric of Harriet Peebles Cull, a self-proclaimed emancipator of the working class. Seduced by Cull's impassioned discourse, Hortense internalizes the conviction that she is but a cog in the vast, oppressive apparatus of labor, a "downtrodden slave" yearning for liberation. Unbeknownst to her, the scion of her employer, Saul Shilpick, Jr., harbors a profound affection for her, an adoration she conspicuously disregards in her burgeoning ideological fervor. In a decisive rupture with her past, Hortense abandons her secretarial post to enlist in Comrade Harriet's coterie of "uplifters." She finds herself ensconced in Harriet's domicile, utterly captivated by the perceived nobility of her new vocation, blind to the stark irony that her newfound "freedom" has merely transmuted her into a general servant for Harriet, effectively deepening her subjugation. Her emotional compass further veers off course as she becomes enamored with Larry Holden, a charismatic yet duplicitous free-loader and self-styled reformer, whose advocacy for "free love" belies his marital status. It is at this juncture of profound disillusionment that Shilpick, Jr., demonstrating an earnest devotion, ingeniously infiltrates the "uplifters" under the guise of a newly converted disciple. His calculated intervention culminates in Hortense's emancipation from the clutches of the movement's inherent hypocrisy, ultimately securing her affections and offering a genuine path to personal fulfillment beyond the hollow promises of radical reform.
Synopsis
After attending a lecture by Harriet Peebles Cull, Hortense Troutt, a stenographer to wealthy clothes manufacturer Saul Shilpick, Sr., becomes convinced that she is one of the thousands of downtrodden slaves to labor. Saul Shilpick, Jr. is in love with Hortense, but she ignores him. Hortense suddenly quits her job and joins Comrade Harriet's "uplifters." Harriet shares her home with Hortense, who is so infatuated with her new mission that she does not realize she has become an even more downtrodden laborer as a general servant to Harriet. Hortense believes she is in love with Larry Holden, a free-loader reformer who is actually already married and practices free love. Shilpick, Jr. disguises himself as a "convert," rescues Hortense from the uplifters, and wins her love.
Review Excerpt
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Unveiling the Illusions of Idealism: A Deep Dive into The Uplifters (1919)
In the bustling crucible of early 20th-century American cinema, where nascent narratives often grappled with the profound societal shifts of the era, George D. Baker's 1919 silent drama, The Uplifters (slug: the-uplifters), emerges as a remarkably insightful, if somewhat didactic, examination of social reform, class consciousness, and the often-blurry lines between genuine altruism and self-serving ideo..."
