Famous Mrs. Fair on AllMovie

This "real life" drama starred some of the best second-string talent at Metro, and first-class screenwriter Frances Marion adapted the story from a stage play by James Forbes. When the world war (meaning World War I -- there was only one back then) breaks out, Mrs. Fair (Myrtle Stedman) goes to Europe as a nurse. She is decorated for bravery, and when she comes home, she discovers that she is famous. She is offered a lecture tour, which her husband (Huntly Gordon) forbids her to accept. Mrs. Fair rebels and accepts anyway, leaving her husband; son, Alan (Cullen Landis); and daughter, Sylvia (Marguerite de la Motte), on their own. At a loss without Mrs. Fair, the family moves into a hotel. Mr. Fair succumbs to the charms of a vampy neighbor, Angy Brice (Carmel Myers), while Sylvia becomes a flapper and Alan takes up gambling. When Mrs. Fair finally gets back from her tour, Alan and her husband settle down, but Sylvia is about to run off with the no-good Dudley Gillette (Ward Crane). Alan, who has married a nice girl (Helen Ferguson), saves her from disgracing herself. Mrs. Fair realizes that her neglect was what started all the trouble (this was definitely in the days before women's equality), and gladly stays home.