Polly with a Past

Polly with a Past is a 1920 American silent film produced and distributed by Metro Pictures and directed by Leander de Cordova. Based on a 1917 Broadway stage play, the film starred Ina Claire, reprising her stage role as the title Polly. Clifton Webb had an early unbilled screen appearance in this film.

Ministers daughter Polly Shannon Ina Claire, in order to earn money go to Paris and study opera, takes a job as a maid for Clay Cullum Harry Benham and Harry Richardson Clifton Webb. Cullum and Richardson are friends with Rex Van Zile Ralph Graves, whose love for Myrtle Davis Louiszita Valentine is unrequited. The three friends and Polly come up with a scheme to get Myrtle to notice Rex. Polly poses as a French adventuress with a past who pursues Rex. Their plan is to inspire Myrtle to save Rex from the bad woman.In December 1919, Metro acquired the play Polly With a Past 1917 from Guy Bolton and George Middleton for 75,000, reputedly the highest price paid for a stage story to that time. Its purchase reflected Metros efforts to obtain stories that were already wellknown and popular. From the start, Ina Claire, who had played Polly on the stage, was intended to star in the film version. ........

Source: Wikipedia