Agnes Ayres had started in films in 1915 and five years
later she was still grinding out quickies and shorts when
she came to the attention of Jesse L. Lasky. Under his
guidance she became a star at Paramount in her first film "Forbidden Fruit", a top flight Cecil B. DeMille production which had critics raving about her stellar performance. Variety noted "Agnes Ayres is given chief honors and wears them well". The film boasted an all
star cast (mostly DeMille regulars) and it was to Agnes'
credit that she was noticed and praised.
With a beautifully tinted print Agnes stood out with her beauty and performance - she plays Mary Maddox, tied to a shiftless lazy husband, who is reduced to taking in sewing to make ends meet. When one of her wealthy clients asks her to help them out at a weekend party in order to captivate a particular young man whom she and her husband are hoping to interest in an oil deal, Mary realises her dream of being Cinderella will be a reality.
"Clothes by Poiret, Perfume by Coty, Jewels by Tiffany" - she becomes belle of the ball and Mr. Rogers (played by a very pop eyed Forrest Stanley) is smitten. Back at home, husband Steve is feeling very left out and broke and goes into partnership with the Mallory's crooked butler, Petro, who assures him there are jewels and riches for the taking, especially from the "wealthy woman" staying the weekend. During the break-in Steve recognises his wife and vows revenge on not only her but the man who stole her heart.
I thought Clarence Burton as Mary's husband Steve was pretty good, he really conveyed a man who was shiftless and down on his luck but initially with some sympathy and wanting to try to do better especially the scene where he throws a shoe at the little singing bird - but events show he is never going to change. Kathlyn Williams, usually playing self sacrificing wives (as in "Whispering Chorus") here plays a brittle society woman who is not above manipulating the life of her poor employee to clinch her husband's business deal. Also De Mille regular Julia Faye shines as a sassy maid.
With a beautifully tinted print Agnes stood out with her beauty and performance - she plays Mary Maddox, tied to a shiftless lazy husband, who is reduced to taking in sewing to make ends meet. When one of her wealthy clients asks her to help them out at a weekend party in order to captivate a particular young man whom she and her husband are hoping to interest in an oil deal, Mary realises her dream of being Cinderella will be a reality.
"Clothes by Poiret, Perfume by Coty, Jewels by Tiffany" - she becomes belle of the ball and Mr. Rogers (played by a very pop eyed Forrest Stanley) is smitten. Back at home, husband Steve is feeling very left out and broke and goes into partnership with the Mallory's crooked butler, Petro, who assures him there are jewels and riches for the taking, especially from the "wealthy woman" staying the weekend. During the break-in Steve recognises his wife and vows revenge on not only her but the man who stole her heart.
I thought Clarence Burton as Mary's husband Steve was pretty good, he really conveyed a man who was shiftless and down on his luck but initially with some sympathy and wanting to try to do better especially the scene where he throws a shoe at the little singing bird - but events show he is never going to change. Kathlyn Williams, usually playing self sacrificing wives (as in "Whispering Chorus") here plays a brittle society woman who is not above manipulating the life of her poor employee to clinch her husband's business deal. Also De Mille regular Julia Faye shines as a sassy maid.