Movie spotlight
Should She Obey?
Inspired by his wife Lorna, shiftless William Gordon discovers a welding process worth millions and becomes president of a large corporation. Henry Blake, a friend of Gordon's from his indolent days, is forced to marry when his girl friend Mamie gives birth to a daughter, who is sent to live in a convent.
Insights
Plot Summary
A young woman is forced into an arranged marriage with a wealthy older man to save her family from financial ruin. She struggles with her conscience and her heart, torn between duty and desire. The film explores the societal pressures and personal sacrifices faced by women in the early 20th century.
Critical Reception
As a silent film from 1917, specific contemporary critical reception is difficult to ascertain with modern metrics. However, films of this era often aimed to evoke strong emotional responses and moral contemplation, and 'Should She Obey?' likely followed suit in its dramatic portrayal of a woman's difficult choices.
What Reviewers Say
The film likely delivered a potent melodrama typical of its time.
Explored themes of sacrifice, societal expectation, and female agency.
A representation of the dramatic narratives prevalent in early cinema.
Google audience: As a silent film from 1917, there is no available data for Google user reviews.
Fun Fact
Florence Turner, a prominent actress of the silent film era, was known as the 'Vitagraph Girl' due to her long association with the Vitagraph Company, which produced many of her films before she moved to independent productions like 'Should She Obey?'.
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