1925·Drama·1h 10m
7.1
★
The story of two baby girls, born near in proximity but worlds apart in society: Molly Helmer, the daughter of a thief, and Florence Banning, the daughter of the judge who sent Molly's father to prison. The girls' lives come together as they reach the age of eighteen, when Florence leaves the security of the exclusive Girls Select School, and Molly, now orphaned, begins her life after reform school.
Directed by Monta Bell
silent film
reform school
dance hall
IMDB
N/A
Cast
Norma Shearer
Molly Helmer / Florence Banning
Malcolm McGregor
David Page
Dale Fuller
Florence's Aunt Miss Carr
George K. Arthur
'Chunky' Dunn
Fred Esmelton
Judge Banning
Lew Harvey
Molly's Father Chris Helmer
Gwen Lee
Molly's Friend
Betty Morrissey
Molly's Friend Gertie
Joan Crawford
Body Double for Norma Shearer
Betty Morrissey
Gertie - Molly's Other Friend
Carlton Griffin
Dance Hall Lothario (uncredited)
Constantine Romanoff
Dance Hall Patron (uncredited)
Crew
Cedric Gibbons
Settings
Popular Reviews
5 reviews
Chèrie
6.0★ · 09/13/25
“Women knows.” as she ( Florence ) touching her necklace for comfort was portrayed GIRLHOOD perfectly.
My first black and white film where the color play different parts based on characters point of view and their situations like the yellow represents Molly/ happiness/day , blue being night/sadness while the pink represents Florence/love or the purple color where it shows from Mollys mother also the sorrow.
My first black and white film where the color play different parts based on characters point of view and their situations like the yellow represents Molly/ happiness/day , blue being night/sadness while the pink represents Florence/love or the purple color where it shows from Mollys mother also the sorrow.
“Women knows.” as she ( Florence ) touching her necklace for comfort was portrayed GIRLHOOD perfectly.
My first black and white film where the color play different parts based on characters point of view and their situations like the yellow represents Molly/ happiness/day , blue being night/sadness while the pink represents Florence/love or the purple color where it shows from Mollys mother also the sorrow.
My first black and white film where the color play different parts based on characters point of view and their situations like the yellow represents Molly/ happiness/day , blue being night/sadness while the pink represents Florence/love or the purple color where it shows from Mollys mother also the sorrow.
vilaney
10.0★ · 02/03/25
what a positively chic film! the editing is immaculate - truly a masterclass in match-cuts - and the colour??? MAGNIFIQUE!!! there's a real charm to silent films successful in layering comedy, emotionality, narrative, and pulchritudinous visual content all upon one another to construct a complex, rich viewing experience, with this, "you never know women", and "the dream lady" being my stand outs on that front. the costumes are wonderful, especially molly's - she looks like a very sort of westwood-esque beauty. its short and sweet, so why not just watch it?... as wise women (9muses) once said: "I DONT WANT NO PLAYBOY."
what a positively chic film! the editing is immaculate - truly a masterclass in match-cuts - and the colour??? MAGNIFIQUE!!! there's a real charm to silent films successful in layering comedy, emotionality, narrative, and pulchritudinous visual content all upon one another to construct a complex, rich viewing experience, with this, "you never know women", and "the dream lady" being my stand outs on that front. the costumes are wonderful, especially molly's - she looks like a very sort of westwood-esque beauty. its short and sweet, so why not just watch it?... as wise women (9muses) once said: "I DONT WANT NO PLAYBOY."
Freedom
8.0★ · 08/08/23
"A woman knows, David."
Apparently Joan Crawford makes her first appearance in this film (as a body double) and that lasts only 2 minutes or less but I am so glad I watched this anyway! This was my first introduction to Norma Shearer and I already love her! She was great as the two main characters (I swear for the first 25 minutes I didn't realize that it was her in both roles, she played them so differently and the makeup helped a lot)! I can't wait to watch more of her films!
* I felt so sorry for Molly but that hug in the car was my favorite scene.🥺
* I need every single outfit that Norma wears in this film!😍
"A woman knows, David."
Apparently Joan Crawford makes her first appearance in this film (as a body double) and that lasts only 2 minutes or less but I am so glad I watched this anyway! This was my first introduction to Norma Shearer and I already love her! She was great as the two main characters (I swear for the first 25 minutes I didn't realize that it was her in both roles, she played them so differently and the makeup helped a lot)! I can't wait to watch more of her films!
* I felt so sorry for Molly but that hug in the car was my favorite scene.🥺
* I need every single outfit that Norma wears in this film!😍
Giulianna
6.0★ · 09/23/25
Madison
7.0★ · 09/03/25