THEIR ONE LOVE is a typically sentimental one-reeler from Thanhouser Studios with a unique setting, the Civil war era (it's rather stunning to realize the Civil War was a mere 50 years before this film was made). "The Thanhouser twins", Madeleine and Marion Fairbanks, star as young girls, both infatuated with the boy next door. Later, the Civil War breaks out and the young man joins the cause. The battle scenes are quite impressive for a film of this length. Each girl is in love with the young man but as the war progresses, each girl senses the seriousness of her siblings' love and composes a letter to the young man essentially giving him permission to court the other girl. Before the girls can mail their notes the receive the tragic news that the young man has been killed in battle, and his personal effects have been returned to them (including a framed photograph of the sisters), his "dearest friends", at his request.
This little film doesn't quite pull at the heart strings that it aims for in part because of the limited time frame and lack of detailed characterizations. The Fairbanks sisters are quite lovely and will probably remind you of the Gish sisters, acting in a harmony that is noticeable as that of Lillian and Dorothy.
This little film doesn't quite pull at the heart strings that it aims for in part because of the limited time frame and lack of detailed characterizations. The Fairbanks sisters are quite lovely and will probably remind you of the Gish sisters, acting in a harmony that is noticeable as that of Lillian and Dorothy.