LOVE'S PRISONER
starring Olive Thomas
VARIETY
May 30, 1919
It seems a pity that Triangle could not have found a better vehicle for Olive Thomas than this five reel feature. E. Magnus Ingleton is the author. Jack Dillon did the directing.
The story is absurd, unreal and lacks entertaining qualities. The star takes the part of a young criminal (Nancy) whose father just before he leaves for a long term "up the river" designated her the "best little pickpocket in the city". On her parent's retirement, Nancy has two younger sisters to provide for. These are left in the care of Jonathan Twist, a jeweler and also her "fence".
Nancy ostensibly secures a position as traveling saleswoman, but in reality she continues her career of stealing. Then follow many scenes with the heroine as a demonstrator in a drug store. Here she meets Lord Cleveland. What his lordship is doing in this country is not explained, but they get married and go to England.
Nancy returns to America after the death of her husband and divides her time between society, charity, and stealing. One day she is caught with the "goods," and the detective sent to arrest her falls in love with his prisoner. After she has paid the penalty of her crime, marries her, and it all ends with the usual clinch- and a sigh of relief from those who had to sit through it.
Mechanically, the picture is all right, it is clear and sharp. The settings are in keeeping and lighting good. But if anything, these technical advantages make the shortcomings of the story more pronounced.