When We Were Twenty-One
Cast & Crew
Edwin S. Porter
William Elliott
Charles Waldron
Marie Empress
Helen Lutrell
Winifred Allen
Film Details
Synopsis
Barrister Dick Carew receives a letter from a dying friend asking that he and his three bachelor friends, known as the Trinity, adopt his baby, Richard Audaine. Although they experience awkwardness in caring for the infant, they soon grow to love him. In a mock ceremony, the four guardians betroth Richard to Phyllis, the baby daughter of the housekeeper, Mrs. Ericson. Nicknamed "The Imp" because of his fondness for pranks, Richard grows to be athletic and handsome. In college, Richard lives a riotous life, while becoming a football hero. Richard soon becomes infatuated with a dancer known as "The Firefly," who, after hearing a rumor that he will inherit a fortune when he turns twenty-one, entices him to marry her. Richard's four guardians, ready to sacrifice their own reputations, help extricate Richard from the marriage after "The Firefly," upon learning that Richard has no fortune, leaves him for another man. Regenerated through suffering, Richard, at the end, finds a lasting love.
Cast
William Elliott
Charles Waldron
Marie Empress
Helen Lutrell
Winifred Allen
Arthur Hoops
Charles Coleman
George Backus
Mrs. Gordon
Film Details
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Nat C. Goodwin and Maxine Elliott appeared in the stage production. This was William Elliott's first film. Pathé released a film based on this play in 1920 with the same title. First National Pictures based their film The Truth About Youth on this play. (See AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1921-30; F2.5880.) The film opened in New York on March 28, 1915 and was released nationally on April 5, 1915.
