entering the forbidden domain
by Douglas Messerli
George Ridgwell (screenplay), Wilfrid North
(director) Lillian’s Dilemma / 1914 | difficult
to obtain or lost film
Wilfrid North’s 1914 film Lillian’s Dilemma
is difficult to find and apparently lost. We are left with a description from Moving
Picture World, which I’ve rewritten.
Attending Professor Whippem’s School for Boys, Dick Denby (Paul Kelly)
writes home asking his mother for a new suit of clothes. To make sure he
receives it immediately, his mother sends his sister Lillian (Lillian Walker)
to the school to deliver up the clothes, but upon arrival she is told that
girls are not admitted.
Dick is out playing baseball, and by mistake she enters the wrong room,
instead finding her way into the room of one of the school’s younger teachers,
George Burton (Wally Van). Leaving her clothes on Burton’s bed, she sets out in
search of her brother.
Meanwhile, one of the youngest and smallest boys in the school, Tom discovers
the girl’s clothes, dressing up in them as a joke. But being spotted, he runs
into Professor Whippem’s rooms to hide.
The
Professor’s wife (Kat Price), catching a glimpse of the unknown female figure,
and finding a petticoat that Tom had dropped behind in rush to search out a
hiding spot, accuses her husband (Charles Lawrence) of harboring a girl.
By this time Lillian has met Dick and with him returns to his room, only
to discover that her clothes are in someone else’s bedroom. To further confuse
matters, Dick’s friends, back from the ballfield, noisily enter.
Whippem catches Tom in hiding and discovers that the woman’s attire
which he is wearing has been stolen from Burton’s room, and he immediately
orders that teacher to leave the school.
Dick suggests that Lillian put on her own clothing, which she does
before telling Burton the truth and going to Whippem’s room to plead for
Burton’s return to his position. But while there, Mrs. Whippem discovers the
two together and creates mayhem.
Dick and Burton are called in and, after further explanations, Burton is
reinstated and all is apparently cleared up, Lillian returning home, with
Burton quickly becoming a regular caller. Wedding invitations are mailed out
before the last frame.
Los Angeles, January 27, 2020
Reprinted from World Cinema Review (January
2020).
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