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The Dream Girl

1916 Drama List
86% Tomatometer 7 Reviews
Though many of Cecil B. DeMille's earliest films were based on plays and novels, The Dream Girl was a complete original, written directly for the screen by longtime DeMille associate (and reputed lover) Jeannie Macpherson. Still in her gamine period, superstar-to-be Mae Murray stars as Meg Dugan, a child of the San Francisco waterfront. To escape her shabby surroundings, Meg creates her own fantasy world, complete with a "Sir Galahad" galloping to her rescue. But the grim realities of life come crashing down upon Meg thanks to her reprobate father Jim Dugan (Theodore Roberts), who at present is trying to pass off his confederate "English Hal" (Charles West) as a nobleman, the better to win the heart -- and the bank account -- of susceptible young heiress Alice Merton (Mary Mersch). As luck would have it, Meg has been appointed the temporary ward of Alice's father Benjamin Merton (James Neill). Out of love for Alice's handsome brother Tom (Earl Foxe), Meg exposes her father's scheme, then resignedly returns to the waterfront. But Tom proves to be Meg's long-awaited Sir Galahad when he storms down to the docks and demands that she become his bride.

Critics Reviews

View All (7) Critics Reviews
Inquirer Staff Philadelphia Inquirer No better picturization could be desired of the intricacies of the underworld than those portrayed by Miss Murray. Jun 2, 2021 Full Review Joshua Lowe Variety The Dream Girl, Lasky (Paramount) feature by Jeanie MacPherson, produced by Cecil DeMille, proves that, while there is nothing new under the sun, you can take one of the very oldest "plots" and make a scenario out of it by proper handling. Jun 2, 2021 Full Review Julian Johnson Photoplay The Dream Girl is practically the first soundless operetta to really exploit [Mae Murray]. Jun 2, 2021 Full Review Lynde Denig Moving Picture World Because it is very well done, rather than because of any- extraordinary quality in the story, The Dream Girl belongs among the good, if not the best of the Lasky pictures. Jun 2, 2021 Full Review Clipper Staff New York Clipper Excellently produced photo play up to Lasky's best standards. [Mae Murray is] ably supported by good cast, including that always artistic player, Theodore Roberts. Jun 2, 2021 Full Review Wid Gunning The Film Daily I think this is a very rotten story. Certainly none of the situations will convince, and at times the uncanny convenience of some of the twists made it very, very hard for the efforts of the artists to register. Jun 2, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews
The Dream Girl

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Movie Info

Synopsis Though many of Cecil B. DeMille's earliest films were based on plays and novels, The Dream Girl was a complete original, written directly for the screen by longtime DeMille associate (and reputed lover) Jeannie Macpherson. Still in her gamine period, superstar-to-be Mae Murray stars as Meg Dugan, a child of the San Francisco waterfront. To escape her shabby surroundings, Meg creates her own fantasy world, complete with a "Sir Galahad" galloping to her rescue. But the grim realities of life come crashing down upon Meg thanks to her reprobate father Jim Dugan (Theodore Roberts), who at present is trying to pass off his confederate "English Hal" (Charles West) as a nobleman, the better to win the heart -- and the bank account -- of susceptible young heiress Alice Merton (Mary Mersch). As luck would have it, Meg has been appointed the temporary ward of Alice's father Benjamin Merton (James Neill). Out of love for Alice's handsome brother Tom (Earl Foxe), Meg exposes her father's scheme, then resignedly returns to the waterfront. But Tom proves to be Meg's long-awaited Sir Galahad when he storms down to the docks and demands that she become his bride.
Director
Cecil B. DeMille
Producer
Cecil B. DeMille
Screenwriter
Jeanie Macpherson
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English