THE FAMILY SECRET
starring Baby Peggy, Gladys Hulette and Edward Earle
THE EUGENE (OR) GUARD
October 18, 1924
Once in a while out of the jumble of countless screenplays that are produced each year there is produced a picture of the average feature length that has something about it that stamps it as entertainment of more than ordinary value.
Such a picture is "The Family Secret," a crook-melodrama which opens Monday at the Castle, and the "something" which sets it apart is a little four-year old girl, Baby Peggy, the tiny star of the picture.
The little youngster is immense. She has a combination of natural cuteness and trained dramatic ability that places her well at the head of child stars of the screen.
The story itself, written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, reflecting the reaction to a stern man's injustice to an only daughter and forcing her husband to prison, is interesting, but it is to Baby Peggy that the honors for the picture's especial worth must be credited.
Gladys Hulette is excellent as the mother, and Edward Earle and Frank Currier are good as father and grandfather. The entire cast is worthy and William Seiter's direction is very creditable.
Others in the cast worthy of mention are Cesare Gravina, Martha Mattox, Lucy Beaumont and Millie Davenport.
THE FAMILY SECRET
Starring Baby Peggy, Gladys Hulette, Frank Currier, Edward Earle
HARRISON'S REPORTS
June 14, 1924
"The Family Secret," adapted from Frances Hodgson Burnett's story, "Editha's Burglar," is an appealing domestic drama. The little star's part is really of secondary importance to the picture, for the action centers mostly about the unhappiness of a young married couple who were separated by the uncompromising dictate of an unsympathetic father. As usual, Baby Peggy gets the most out of her part, charming the spectators with her magnetic little personality. Gladys Hulette, the adult heroine of the piece, deserves most of the credit for the picture's appeal. Edward Earle, too, as the hero, is good.
The story treats (sic) of a proud father, member of an aristocratic, haughty family who brings untold misery to his only daughter (heroine) by his refusal to recognize her marriage to a man (hero) who he believes is unworthy - a mere fortune-hunter. He orders the boy out of the house. Chafing under the separation from his love done, the hero returns under cover of darkness and, taking advantage of an open window on the ground floor, enters and ascends to his wife's room. The father soon learns of the incident and, summoning the police, has the boy arrested for house-breaking and attempted burglary. The boy is sentenced to serve a four-year term in the penitentiary. Soon after his discharge, the unrelenting father softens in his attitude toward the young people and promises his daughter to make every effort to locate the boy. The long-suffering hero and heroine are finally restored to each other, and, in the possession of a father's blessing and of a baby girl, they come into deserved happiness.
It should please almost any adult picture-goer.
For more information, see "The Family Secret" as one of our "Featured Films"