The Easiest Way
The Easiest Way

Movie spotlight

The Easiest Way

1917
Movie
70 min
English

A young actress seeks an engagement in New York but faces obstacles due to jealousy and politics. Her wealthy broker finances a production, demanding her best role. She resists, then moves to Denver for a stock engagement and falls in love with a newspaper writer.

Insights

Director: Maurice TourneurGenres: Drama, Romance

Plot Summary

Based on the successful 1909 play of the same name, "The Easiest Way" tells the story of Laura Murdock, a young woman from a small town who moves to New York City seeking a life of luxury and excitement. She becomes involved with a wealthy but married man, believing this path offers her the easiest way to achieve her desires. However, her choices lead her down a path of moral compromise and emotional turmoil as she navigates the consequences of her decisions.

Critical Reception

As a silent film from 1917, specific detailed critical reviews comparable to modern standards are scarce. However, the film was based on a highly successful and controversial stage play, indicating significant public interest and discussion at the time of its release. Contemporary accounts suggest it was viewed as a dramatic and potentially scandalous depiction of a woman's moral choices.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film likely mirrored the stage play's themes of ambition, societal pressures, and moral compromise.

  • It was considered a dramatic and potentially provocative story for its time.

  • The narrative focused on a woman's pursuit of wealth and status through unconventional means.

Google audience: Information on specific Google user reviews from 1917 is unavailable. However, the original play was known for sparking debate about female agency and societal expectations.

Fun Fact

The film is based on a controversial Broadway play of the same name, written by Eugene Walter, which was known for its frank portrayal of a woman's sexual and economic choices, pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable on stage at the time.

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