Salvation Nell
Cast & Crew
James Cruze
Ralph Graves
Helen Chandler
Sally O'neil
Dewitt Jennings
Charlotte Walker
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In 1912, Nell Saunders, a hard-working waitress, is in love with Jim Platt, a loafer who lives off her money and treats her badly. When Nell loses her waitressing job because she is late to work after an afternoon with Jim, he forces her to take a job washing floors at McGovern's saloon, even though it is not a respectable place to work. At the saloon, she fights off the advances of Mooney, one of the regulars. He bets that he can kiss her, and Jim walks in as he is trying. Furious, Jim fights with Mooney and kills him in the process. The police close down the saloon, and Jim is sent to prison for five years on manslaughter charges. Myrtle, a former waitress who now works at Madame Cloquette's brothel, suggests that Nell join her there, but Maggie, a Salvation Army worker, intervenes and Nell joins the Army. There, she gives birth to Jim's baby, Jimmy. Jim gets time off for good behavior and arrives unexpectedly at Nell's just as Major Williams of the Army has declared his love. Jim kicks the major out of the room and tries to convince Nell to come with him. Nell learns that he intends to rob a bank and tries to dissuade him, but even the sight of his son has no effect on his plans. Jim leaves, but when he sees Nell at prayer, his feelings change, and he agrees to join Nell in the Salvation Army.
Director
James Cruze
Cast
Ralph Graves
Helen Chandler
Sally O'neil
Dewitt Jennings
Charlotte Walker
Matthew Betz
Rose Dione
Wally Albright
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The Variety review states that the press sheet lists the film's running time as 85 minutes and the length as 7,653 feet. The review adds that the difference in length when the picture was screened in New York indicates deletions were made due to censorship. Although the role of Madame Cloquette, the owner of a brothel, is credited on screen and mention is made of her establishment in the dialogue, neither she nor her brothel appear on screen. The script deposited with the copyright records does include scenes that take place at Madame Cloquette's. The play, which was Edward Sheldon's first, starred Minnie Maddern Fiske as Salvation Nell and was produced by her husband, Harrison Grey Fiske. It was first filmed in 1909 by Biograph as The Salvation Army Lass, directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Florence Lawrence and Harry Solter. It was filmed again in 1915 under the direction of George E. Middleton and stared Beatriz Michelena (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1911-20; F1.3843). Another screen adaption was released in 1921 by Associated First National Pictures and starred Pauline Starke. It was directed by Kenneth Webb (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1921-30; F2.4791).
