The Way of a Maid

The Way of a Maid
The Way of a Maid
	Production still of shot where Niles Welch has gotten out of bed and has a dizzy spell. Welch is standing on a platform with the camera and they can be moved together, making it appear in the film that the room and Elaine Hammerstein are moving while Welch is motionless.
Directed by	William P. S. Earle
Written by	Lewis Allen Browne
Story by	Rex Taylor
Produced by	Selznick Pictures; Lewis J. Selznick
Starring	Elaine Hammerstein; Diana Allen
Cinematography	William F. Wagner
Production; company	Selznick Pictures
Distributed by	Select Pictures
Release date	November 30, 1921;
Running time	5 reels (4,800 feet)
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

The Way of a Maid is a surviving 1921 American silent comedy-drama film produced by Selznick Pictures and starring Elaine Hammerstein. It was released by Select Pictures and directed by William P. S. Earle from an original story for the screen. A print of the film is held by the Library of Congress.^[1]^[2]

Plot

As described in a film magazine,^[3] successful candy salesman Tom Lawlor (Welch) returns to his hotel room and finds it in disorder. Mistaking the young society woman Naida Castleton (Hammerstein), entering the room across the hall from his, for a maid, Tom orders her to make his bed. She keenly enjoys the joke and keeps up the deception as "Marie", and afterwards when Tom's mother Mrs. Lawlor (Lindroth) asks her to become her secretary, Naida accepts the position when her fortune has been swept away. Tom falls in love with her. Naida is sent to Newport to open up a summer home the Lawlor's have recently purchased, one which formerly belonged to Naida's family, her friends descend on her and she is forced to disclose her identity to Tom and his family. She accepts Tom, however, when she finds that he loves her just as much as Naida, society swell, as Marie the maid.

Cast

Diana Allen as Dorothy Graham
Charles D. Brown as Gordon Witherspoon
George Fawcett as David Lawlor
Elaine Hammerstein as Naida Castleton
Arthur Housman as Jimmy Van Trent
Helen Lindroth as Mrs. Lawlor
Niles Welch as Thomas Lawlor

References

^ Progressive Silent Film List: The Way of a Maid at silentera.com
^ The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1921-30 by The American Film Institute, c.1971
^ "Reviews: The Way of a Maid". Exhibitors Herald. 13 (25). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 61. December 17, 1921.

External links

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[1] Progressive Silent Film List: The Way of a Maid at silentera.com

[2] The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1921-30 by The American Film Institute, c.1971

[3] "Reviews: The Way of a Maid". Exhibitors Herald. 13 (25). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 61. December 17, 1921.

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