As a starlet Joan Crawford would have been every studio's dream, her co-operation as far as studio photos and eagerness to please in publicity shoots became legendary. Unlike a lot of actresses she believed that photos got one noticed and she was right. For only her second role, her mentor Harry Rapf found her a part that was sure to get her noticed. "The Circle", adapted from a Somerset Maugham play and directed by rising director Frank Borzage was in reality a vehicle for Eleanor Boardman but Joan (her new name had become official at the time of the movie's release) had the pivotal role of Young Lady Catherine in the prologue, which was set in England in 1895.
When Hugh Porteous persuades Lady Catherine to elope with him he tells her she will never regret the step she is about to take. She leaves behind her husband and her little boy, Arnold (Creighton Hale) who is revealed when the main story gets under way as a fussy, old before his time and "a thorough old maid" - as whispered by his exasperated wife, Elizabeth (beautiful Eleanor Boardman). Events have come full circle and Elizabeth is contemplating running off with bounder Teddy Luton (Malcolm McGregor)!! Unbeknownst to everyone, she has organised a visit from her mother in law and Lord Porteous as she wants to see for herself how "runaway love" has endured after 30 years!! Arnold is not looking forward to it and there is a very whimsical scene where Lord Clive (Alec B. Francis) the unsuspecting "jilted" husband comes in and everyone is frantically trying to take his hunting gun off him. When he finally finds out who the visitors are to be he is quite calm about it and remembers the Catherine he knew as "sweet, frail and exquisitely lovely"!!!
As played by Eugenie Besserer "Kitty" is crude, loud, proud of her bleached hair and wouldn't be out of place as hostess of a pub!!! The husband Hugh (George Fawcett) is an irritable complainer and during a game of bridge they snip and snipe at each other and make everyone else uncomfortable. I thought Teddy would be frightened off the elopement and show his true colors but Elizabeth comes across the couple in a quiet moment and realises that they love each other very much, so it is up to Arnold to be a "man not a mouse" and show Elizabeth that her future lies with him.
This was a really nice little movie and Eleanor Boardman proved she was a quiet achiever - not a flashy star but a dependable actress who added class and dignity to all her roles!!
When Hugh Porteous persuades Lady Catherine to elope with him he tells her she will never regret the step she is about to take. She leaves behind her husband and her little boy, Arnold (Creighton Hale) who is revealed when the main story gets under way as a fussy, old before his time and "a thorough old maid" - as whispered by his exasperated wife, Elizabeth (beautiful Eleanor Boardman). Events have come full circle and Elizabeth is contemplating running off with bounder Teddy Luton (Malcolm McGregor)!! Unbeknownst to everyone, she has organised a visit from her mother in law and Lord Porteous as she wants to see for herself how "runaway love" has endured after 30 years!! Arnold is not looking forward to it and there is a very whimsical scene where Lord Clive (Alec B. Francis) the unsuspecting "jilted" husband comes in and everyone is frantically trying to take his hunting gun off him. When he finally finds out who the visitors are to be he is quite calm about it and remembers the Catherine he knew as "sweet, frail and exquisitely lovely"!!!
As played by Eugenie Besserer "Kitty" is crude, loud, proud of her bleached hair and wouldn't be out of place as hostess of a pub!!! The husband Hugh (George Fawcett) is an irritable complainer and during a game of bridge they snip and snipe at each other and make everyone else uncomfortable. I thought Teddy would be frightened off the elopement and show his true colors but Elizabeth comes across the couple in a quiet moment and realises that they love each other very much, so it is up to Arnold to be a "man not a mouse" and show Elizabeth that her future lies with him.
This was a really nice little movie and Eleanor Boardman proved she was a quiet achiever - not a flashy star but a dependable actress who added class and dignity to all her roles!!