The Mating of Marcella (1918) "You've Been Very Kind, Marcella." Lobby card with Thurston Hall, Dorothy Dalton and Bobby Irving Ready Made Ad Talks Dorothy Dalton in a Society Drama, "The Mating of Marcella" (Paramount Five-Reel Production) There are few motion picture stars who have a more enthusiastic following than Dorothy Dalton, and this fact will doubtless be demonstrated here on ____ when Miss Dalton apprears at the ____ theatre in "The Mating of Marcella," a powerful domestic drama by Joseph Franklin Poland. Miss Dalton has done splendid work in this, her newest picture for Paramount, done under the supervision of Thomas H. Ince, and the excellence of her portrayal of the exacting title role has not only served to increase her popularity but has added materially to her reputation as one of the most charming and talented motion picture stars in the country. Mr. Poland, the author, has a long string of successes to his credit, but "The Mating of Marcella" outshines them all. The plot is developed with clearness and strength while the characterizations are all that could be desired. R. William Neill, who directed the star in "Love Me" and "Tyrant Fear," had charge of the production under Mr. Ince's supervision -- which speaks volumes for its artistic excellence. Thurston Hall plays the leading role opposite Miss Dalton, and Juanita Hansen, a strikingly beautiful blonde, has an important role. Others in the case are Spottiswoode Aitken, William Conklin, Milton Ross, Donald MacDonald and Buster Irving. In this picture Miss Dalton is a modiste's model, the daughter of a musician whose prolonged illness causes her much anxiety. To obtain money to pay physicians' bills she consents to impersonate the frivolous wife of a rich man for six months, in order that the wife may establish a legal residence in Nevada and obtain a divorce to marry a "Count." The husband falls in love with her. Through the revenge of a discarded admirer of the wife when she was a showgirl, they are made free to marry when this man, disguised as a chauffeur, drives his automobile into a lake and drowns the wife, her new sweetheart and himself. At the ____ on ____ of ____ week, "The Mating of Marcella," with Dorothy Dalton. -- Motion Picture News, June 8, 1918, p. 1419 Advertising Aids for Busy Managers "THE MATING OF MARCELLA" Thomas H. Ince Presents Dorothy Dalton in the Story of a Modiste's Model, Who Becomes the Real Wife of the Man Whose Name She Assumed. Cast. Marcella Duranzo Dorothy Dalton Robert Underwood Thurston Hall Lois Underwood Juanita Hansen Count Louis Le Favri William Conklin Jack Porter Donald MacDonald Pedro Escoba Milton Ross Jose Duranzo Spottiswoode Aitken Bobby Underwood Buster Irving Directed by R. William Neill. The Story: Marcella's father, a musician, falls ill, and is unable to continue his work. Rather than become the wife of Pedro Escoba, also a musician, Marcella esuports herself and her parent by working as a model. Marcella's father gets worse, and the service a a specialist is required. To secure money to obtain the doctor, Marcella agrees to a proposition of Lois Underwood, the show-girl wife of the wealty Robert Underwood, to live in the West for a certain time under the assumed name of Mrs. Underwood, the object of Lois being to obtain a divorce from her husband and to marry her admirer, Count louis Le Favri. Little Bobby Underwood falls dangerously ill, but through Marcella's nursing his health is restored. Later, Mrs. Underwood and the count meet death when a discarded lover of Mrs. Underwood, acting as her chauffeur, drives them into a lake, Robert Underwood, who has fallen in love with Marcella, marries her. Feature Dorothy Dalton as Marcella Duranzo and Thurston Hall as Robert Underwood. Program and Advertising Phrases: Vengeance Breaks the Marriage Tie When Schemes and plots Have Failed. Getting Rid of a Husband Was Not So Easy as it Seemed. Stripping the Mask of Deceit from the Face of a Faithless Wife. When Is a Co-Respondent Not a Co-Respondent? Stirring Drama of Married Infelicity Carrying a Vital Lesson Domestic Drama Involving Thrilling Complications. Stunt Suggestions: Get out a throw-away with a flash line, "Do you want to earn $1,000?" In smaller type add, "Mrs. Robert Underwood paid Marcella that sum to impersonate her at Reno and thus establish a legal residence preparatory to divorce. See 'The Mating of Marcella' at (house and date)." Get a blank decree of divorce if you cn, or make a copy and paste on window cards with the text, "Mrs. Underwood paid Marcella a thousand dollars to establish a Reno residence, but Death was the judge who gave the final decree. See 'The Mating of Marcella' at (house and date)." Use with the large gelatines of the star for lobby work. Advertising Aids: Two each one, three and six-sheets. one 24-sheet. Lobby displays, 8x10, 11x14 and 22x28. Cuts from one to three columns on star and production. Advertising layout mats. Slides. Press book. Released May 20. -- Moving Picture World, May 25, 1918, pp.1191-1192 "The Mating of Marcella" (Paramount-Ince -- Five Reels) Reviewed by Peter Milne. JOSEPH FRANKLIN POLANDS' "The Mating of Marcella" casts Dorothy dalton in a society role which se handles as capably as the artificialty of it will permit. Mr. Poland's plot, it must be confessed, is builded upon a premise that smacks more of the basic situation of a musical comedy than of serious drama. However, this portion of the story is registered with good effect It is the seemingly forced virtue of the heroine, Marcella, a but of characterization perhaps injected to meet the goody-goody moral code of censor boards, that transforms the drama into an unlikely conflict of conscience-striken characters. It is when Marcella, after finding herself in love with Underwood and realizing that circumstances have paved the way for their happy marriage, suddenly decides that Underwood's place is at the side of his impossible wife that the false note becomes apparent. Granted that Marcella might have entertained scruples against divorce, her previous conduct in situations from which another woman would have resigned seems to stamp her as a very inconsistent lady. So it is not Miss Dalton's fault that at times her work fails to convince. The five reels contain a number of pretentious settings and include a view of a hotel garden that is a rare delight to the eye. Supporting the star appear Thurston Hall as hero, Juanita Hansen whose blonde beauty makes her the identical type for the frivolous wife, and william Conklin. R. William Neil, the director, has handled his subject tastefully. The sensational thrill in the last reel when all the undesirable characters are disposed of when an express train hits their automobile amidships is cleverly executed, being timed to the minute. the photographic work is up to the high standard always maintained in Ince pictures. THE STORY AND PLAYERS Marcella (Dorothy Dalton), modiste's model, is constantly worried over the long illness of her father, Duranzo (Spottiswoode Aitken). Late one evening while delivering a gown to Lois Underwood (Juanita Hansen), in an emergency she runs into an opportunity to gain a thousand dollars. Mrs. Underwood, formerly a show girl, languishes under the marital "yoke" and entertains no love for her husband, Robert (Thurston Hall) or her young son (Buster Irving). But she doesn't like the idea of giving up the time to live in Reno long enough to establish her residence there and then sue for divorce. Count Louis (William Conklin), one of her admirers, suggests that she employ Marcella to take her place. And Marcella accepts the offer, believing she is helping Lois in Procuring a fortune. While at a fashionable hotel in Reno she meets her supposed husband who has come west with his son. Explanations are in order. The little boy is taken seriously ill and Marcella nurses him back to health, the while gaining the love and respect of his father. She, however, refuses his proposition that she stay on and establish Mrs. Underwood's residence. She implores him to patch up his quarrel with his wife. She returns to her father. Lois, having failed to get her divorce, adopts the plan put before her by Jack Porter (donald MacDonald), another suitor and announces her intention of starting suit for divorce, naming Marcella as co-respondent. Her activities are, however, cut short, for Count Louis, jealous of Porter, disguises himself as Lois' chauffer and drivers her, his rival and himself to destruction beneath the wheels of an engine. Then Marcella goes to the man she loves. -- Motion Picture News, June 1, 1918, p. 3326 What the Picture Did For Me The Mating of Marcella, with Dorothy Dalton -- Women especially liked this because of gowns. Men enjoyted the story. Has the life of city wealth well shown. -- Majestic Theatre, Lexington, Nebraska -- Small town patronage -- Exhibitor's Herald and Motography, March 29, 1919, p. 45 What the Picture Did For Me The Mating of Marcella, with Dorothy Dalton -- A splendid subject. Well liked by all. Light business, but all came out boosting picture. -- M. C. Kellogg, Homestake Theatre, Lead, S. D. -- Mixed patronage. -- Exhibitor's Herald and Motography, October 5, 1918, p. 41 Why Do They Do It A Memo to Mr. Hoover IN "The Mating of Marcella," with Dorothy Dalton, Marcella boys a bag of apples to take to her invalid father. The hero comes along in a swell limosuine and nearly runs over her, causing her to drop her bad of apples. Hero and heroine drive off but leave the bag of apples on the pavement. Marcella arrives home and suprises her father with the same bag of apples. Carl J. PETERSON San Antonio, Tex -- Photoplay, November 1918, p. 71 with Dorothy Dalton, Thurston Hall and Juanita Hansen. Directed by Roy William Neil. Ince/Paramount. More Information on this film...                                      This work (The Mating of Marcella (1918), by Ince/Paramount), identified by Bruce Calvert, is free of known copyright restrictions. Books None. Last Modified July 11, 2019