STEADY COMPANY

Released 7/6/15 by Universal/Rex; Director: Joseph De Grasse; Screenplay: Ida May Park, from a story by Julius Grinnel Furthmann; 1 reel

CAST: Pauline Bush (Nan Brenner), Lon Chaney (Jimmy Ford), Lydia Yeamans Titus (Mrs. Ford)

SYNOPSIS: Nan Brenner comes from a dreary home...her mother is a large brutish woman, and her father a henpecked drunk. Jimmy Ford is a shipping clerk in a large wholesale house, and every evening on the bus ride home, he notices Nan returning from her job in a department store. He frequently tries to talk to her, but she is reluctant to make friends out of shame for her family. One day, Jimmy offers his seat to Nan, and when a laborer takes the seat first, Jimmy starts a fight and throws the laborer out. As Nan gets off the bus, she sees that Jimmy has left his umbrella on the seat, and she brings it to him. Jimmy gets off with her and she agrees to share his umbrella. Nan finally relents and agrees to take a walk in the park that Sunday. When the day arrives, they go to the zoo where they spot a crowd of boys teasing a drunk. Jimmy chases the boys away and offers to take the man home, but to her horror, Nan realizes the man is her father. When they arrive home, Nan's mother grabs the old man without a word of thanks to Jimmy for his help. Nan runs to her room sobbing, sure that her brief romance is over, but Jimmy knocks timidly on the door, and reminds her that they still haven't finished their peanuts in the park. Later, in the park, Nan sobs in Jimmy's arms, but finally kisses her newfound sweetheart.

"A bright, pleasing subject...There is a lot of real life in this story; in spite of the girl's hard circumstances, the humorous side is always up. A good picture, full of natural, homely touches." ---Moving Picture World.


© 1996,2008 Jon C. Mirsalis


Return to Filmography