A Woman's Experience

This unavailable, and presumed lost, silent starred successful Broadway actress Mary Boland. "The New York Times" (November 11, 1918) headline of the feature as "Mary Boland's Film Debut" suggests her earlier film appearances were relatively minor. The newspaper's movie critic described "A Woman's Experience" as one of the better "photographed stage play" productions. There was some praise for Ms. Boland, director Perry N. Vekroff's technique, and a few of the players.

Boland, who reached her peak of popularity alongside Charlie Ruggles in a series of 1930s comedies, was "often effective, though she sometimes falls short of the mark or overreaches. Corrine Uzzell, whose exceptional pantomimic ability was strikingly demonstrated in the part of the mulatto in 'A Woman of Impulse', again plays with distinction. There are two scenes between her and Sam Hardy, who is also adequate, in which the action is made dramatic and clear without the aid of a single subtitle."

Still, the "Times" critic concluded the "more or less" faithfully adapted version of Paul M. Potter's play "Agnes" (difficult to find), "has nothing in itself to commend it. It pretends to be a story of high life, with a moral, but the pretense is not sustained." The February 1919 issue of "Motion Picture Magazine" echoed negatively, "The story of domestic difficulties, it has been artificially directed and acted. Sam Hardy and Robert Cain play the husband and villain to Miss Boland's heroine."

**** A Woman's Experience (11/10/18) Perry N. Vekroff ~ Mary Boland, Sam Hardy, Robert Cain, Corene Uzzell