AllMovie

A sophisticated older woman loses her young swain to her own daughter in this silent drama starring future Hollywood gossip columnist Hedda Hopper. The elegant Miss Hopper, as sophisticated Grace Sturdevant, has at first no problems beguiling wealthy, young Reggie Copeley (Hugh Allan) despite interference from his watchful mother (Frances Raymond). But after saving Grace's pretty young daughter (Constance Howard) from drowning, Hugh falls madly in love with the girl. Grace is at first miserably unhappy but, as the film's press-book stated, "decides to forego her own welfare for the sake of the young lovers." Directed by Phil Rosen, an old hand at this sort of thing, The Cruel Truth was released on the low-budget states rights market by Sterling Pictures.