Suds (film)
Encyclopedia
Suds is a 1920
silent film
directed by John Francis Dillon
and starring Mary Pickford
. The film is based upon the stage production Op o' me Thumb.
) is a poor laundry woman working in London
springtime. She is too weak to do the hard work, but is always picked and humiliated by her boss Madame Didier (Rose Dione
) because of her always accidentally getting in trouble. Amanda is desperately in love with the handsome customer Horace Greensmith (Albert Austin
), but all of her colleagues don't think she stands a chance in being his sweetheart.
One afternoon, Amanda gets in trouble again and is forced to work all night long. All alone, Amanda fantasizes about her first and only meeting with Horace, eight months ago. All the fellow employees ridicule her for her still having faith Horace will return someday to pick up his clothes. Amanda is fed up with all her colleagues making fun of her and lies she is a duchess, coming from a wealthy family. She comes up with a story of her having an affair with Horace. Her father found out and send her to live in London.
Meanwhile, fellow co-worker Benjamin Jones (Harold Goodwin
) has the job of collecting coach with his stage coach. One day, his beloved horse Lavender is too weak to go up a hill and falls. The coach is destroyed and when Benjamin admits the truth to Madame Didier, she demands for the horse to be killed. Benjamin reveals to Amanda what will happen with Lavender and she tries to stop the horse from being killed. She eventually buys the horse and takes it into her own home.
Angela, however, isn't allowed to take the horse into her own apartment and is noticed on the streets by the wealthy and sympathizing Lady Burke-Cavendish. She offers her to take the horse to live at her country place. Angela is delighted and accepts her offer. Later, Lady Burke-Cavendish stops by to tell Angela the horse is doing very well. Angela lies to the fellow laundry women Lady Burke-Cavendish is actually her aunt.
They are interrupted by Horace, he has returned for his laundry. The fellow workes assume he will recognize Amanda, since they were lied to he is her secret lover. Amanda is desperate and successfully pretends to be reunited with him. Horace is confused and wants to leave. After the laundry women is away, she tells the truth to Horace. Benjamin walks in on them, initially trying to flirt with Angela. However, when he notices Horace's presence, he leaves.
Meanwhile, Horace sympathizes with Angela and invites her to his mansion. He changes his mind, though, when he becomes ashamed of her. Angela notices this and pulls back. Horace leaves and Angela is left behind with a broken heart. She is later hired as Lady Burke-Cavendish's personal maid and now lives in wealth. She finds out Horace is a worker at the country place and they now fall in love with each other.
1920 in film
The year 1920 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* November 27 - The Mark of Zorro, starring Douglas Fairbanks opens.-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1920:U.S.A. unless stated*The $1,000,000 Reward...
silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
directed by John Francis Dillon
John Francis Dillon (director)
John Francis Dillon was an American film director and actor of the silent era. He directed 130 films between 1914 and 1934...
and starring Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
. The film is based upon the stage production Op o' me Thumb.
Plot
Amanda Afflick (Mary PickfordMary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
) is a poor laundry woman working in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
springtime. She is too weak to do the hard work, but is always picked and humiliated by her boss Madame Didier (Rose Dione
Rose Dione
Rose Dione was a French born actress of the silent era. She appeared in 68 films between 1910 and 1932. She was often billed as Madame Rose or Madame Dion...
) because of her always accidentally getting in trouble. Amanda is desperately in love with the handsome customer Horace Greensmith (Albert Austin
Albert Austin
Albert Austin was an actor, film star, director and script writer, noted mainly for his work in Charlie Chaplin films. He was the brother of actor William Austin....
), but all of her colleagues don't think she stands a chance in being his sweetheart.
One afternoon, Amanda gets in trouble again and is forced to work all night long. All alone, Amanda fantasizes about her first and only meeting with Horace, eight months ago. All the fellow employees ridicule her for her still having faith Horace will return someday to pick up his clothes. Amanda is fed up with all her colleagues making fun of her and lies she is a duchess, coming from a wealthy family. She comes up with a story of her having an affair with Horace. Her father found out and send her to live in London.
Meanwhile, fellow co-worker Benjamin Jones (Harold Goodwin
Harold Goodwin
Harold Goodwin was an American film actor who performed in over 225 films.Born in Peoria, Illinois, Goodwin began his film career while still in his teens in the 1915 film short Mike's Elopement. One of his most popular roles of the silent era was that of Jeff Brown in the 1927 Buster Keaton...
) has the job of collecting coach with his stage coach. One day, his beloved horse Lavender is too weak to go up a hill and falls. The coach is destroyed and when Benjamin admits the truth to Madame Didier, she demands for the horse to be killed. Benjamin reveals to Amanda what will happen with Lavender and she tries to stop the horse from being killed. She eventually buys the horse and takes it into her own home.
Angela, however, isn't allowed to take the horse into her own apartment and is noticed on the streets by the wealthy and sympathizing Lady Burke-Cavendish. She offers her to take the horse to live at her country place. Angela is delighted and accepts her offer. Later, Lady Burke-Cavendish stops by to tell Angela the horse is doing very well. Angela lies to the fellow laundry women Lady Burke-Cavendish is actually her aunt.
They are interrupted by Horace, he has returned for his laundry. The fellow workes assume he will recognize Amanda, since they were lied to he is her secret lover. Amanda is desperate and successfully pretends to be reunited with him. Horace is confused and wants to leave. After the laundry women is away, she tells the truth to Horace. Benjamin walks in on them, initially trying to flirt with Angela. However, when he notices Horace's presence, he leaves.
Meanwhile, Horace sympathizes with Angela and invites her to his mansion. He changes his mind, though, when he becomes ashamed of her. Angela notices this and pulls back. Horace leaves and Angela is left behind with a broken heart. She is later hired as Lady Burke-Cavendish's personal maid and now lives in wealth. She finds out Horace is a worker at the country place and they now fall in love with each other.
Remake
The original film was adapted to a musical written by Deonn Ritchie Hunt with music by Kim Douglas in the 2000s.Cast
- Mary PickfordMary PickfordMary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
- Amanda Afflick - Albert AustinAlbert AustinAlbert Austin was an actor, film star, director and script writer, noted mainly for his work in Charlie Chaplin films. He was the brother of actor William Austin....
- Horace Greensmith - Harold GoodwinHarold GoodwinHarold Goodwin was an American film actor who performed in over 225 films.Born in Peoria, Illinois, Goodwin began his film career while still in his teens in the 1915 film short Mike's Elopement. One of his most popular roles of the silent era was that of Jeff Brown in the 1927 Buster Keaton...
- Benjamin Pillsbury Jones - Rose DioneRose DioneRose Dione was a French born actress of the silent era. She appeared in 68 films between 1910 and 1932. She was often billed as Madame Rose or Madame Dion...
- Madame Jeanne Gallifilet Didier
Production crew
- Produced by Mary Pickford
- Cinematography by L. William O'Connell & Charles Rosher
- Art Direction by Max Parker
- Costume Design by Adele Crinley
- Assistant Director William A. Crinley
- Art Department - Alfred L. Werker (props)
- Other crew - William S. Johnson (electrical effects)