A drunk bet, a cabaret dancer, and the worst uncle in cinema history walk into 1919...
Rich Matthew Thurlow, spends nearly every night at cabarets, admires Dazie, a leading dancer whom he calls "Redhead." Dazie loves Matthew, but she is dismayed that he wastes his life in clubs. After Matthew, while intoxicated, marries Dazie to win a bet, Dazie insists that they remain married. When Matthew's uncle cuts off his allowance and ends his "soft" bank job, Dazie decides to make a man out of Matthew, but he scorns her. She rents a small apartment, while he gets work in an auto factory. Although Matthew is genial when Dazie's parents visit, he remains cold to her. When Matthew's uncle offers Dazie money for a divorce, she refuses, but says that she will agree to a divorce if Matthew really wants one. Matthew develops a new interest in life and realizes he loves Dazie when he becomes jealous through a misunderstanding. After his uncle, seeing Dazie's effect on Matthew, threatens to disinherit him for good if he does divorce her, Matthew confesses his love.
Acting
Alice Brady's expressive eyes do ALL the heavy lifting.
Production
Cabaret sets that scream 'we spent the budget here'.
Director
Charles Maigne
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Alice Brady was Broadway royalty; this was her silent film era pivot before talkies made her a character actress staple.
The 'make a man out of him' trope here reflects Progressive Era anxiety about wealthy masculinity—factory work as moral cure.
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