The Law of Compensation

The Law of Compensation is 1917 American silent drama film based on a story by Wilson Mizner and directed by Joseph A. Golden. The film starred Norma Talmadge, who played a dual role, Fred Esmelton, and Chester Barnett.[1] It was produced by Joseph Schenck, the husband of its star Talmadge.

For the law of this name in zoology, see Structuralism (biology) § Law of compensation.
The Law of Compensation
Directed byJoseph A. Golden, Julius Steger
Produced byJoseph Schenck
Screenplay byEdna G. Riley
Story byWilson Mizner
Distributed bySelznick Distributing Corporation
Running time
72 mins
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

Plot

While her husband (Chester Barnett) is out of town, Ruth (Talmadge) is approached by Wells (Edwin Stanley), a small-time song plugger. He claims that he can make a musical comedy star of her if she will come up with some money. But when she tries to ante up the funds, her father (Frederick Esmelton) takes her aside and tells her the story of her mother (also played by Talmadge) who found herself in a similar situation. Her mother ran off with a man, Trevor (John Charles), who later deserted her; after her death, Ruth's father tracked Trevor down and killed him. With all of this in mind, Ruth wisely decides to send Wells on his way.

Cast
  • Norma Talmadge as Flora Graham / Ruth Graham
  • Fred Esmelton as John Graham (credited as Frederick Esmelton)
  • Chester Barnett as Allen Hayes
  • John Charles as Frank Trevor
  • Sally Crute as Grace Benton
  • Fred Hearn as Henry Thurman (credited as Fred G. Hearn)
  • Mary Hall as Mrs. Wayne
  • Edwin Stanley as Raymond Wells
  • Robert W. Cummings as Horace Benton
  • Marie Reichardt as Undetermined Role
  • Harry Burkhardt as Undetermined Role
  • Lorna Volare as Undetermined Role (credited as Baby Lorna)
  • Frank Dawson as Undetermined Role

Commentory

While the lives of the mother and daughter interact through their repetition and parellel situations, the story of the mother, while referenced in the first half of the film, is withheld from Flora and the audience until it is told to her in the second half of the film.[2] Although Talmadge is the star with two roles, the men of the film hold all the power and make all the decisions on behalf of the women; the one choice made by a woman, the mother Ruth, has immence consequences for her and her daughter as deviates it from the straight path.[2]

Preservation status

Prints of The Law of Compensation are held at the Library of Congress (incomplete) and the Museum of Modern Art, 35mm.[1][3]

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References
  1. Progressive Silent Film List: The Law of Compensation at silentera.com
  2. Mayer, Ruth (2020). "Unique Doubles: Ornamental Sisters and Dual Roles in the Transitional Era Cinema". Journal of Cinema and Media Studies. University of Texas Press: 24–27. ISSN 0009-7101. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  3. The Library of Congress/FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Law of Compensation


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