Better Half

• 1918

• Watchlist

This drama was based on the Miriam Michelson novel Michael Thwaite's Wife, and it gave Alice Brady the chance to play a dual role (something that was practically de rigueur for nearly every star in the 1910s). Although Louise and Trixie (both Brady) are identical twins, their temperaments couldn't be more different -- Trixie is flighty and frivolous while Louise is a dutiful homebody. Both of them love the same man, Michael Thwaite (David Powell). Thwaite is dazzled by Trixie's sparkle and marries her, but soon she grows bored with him and starts up a flirtation with Hendrick Thurston (Crauford Kent). While Trixie runs off with Thurston, Thwaite is beaten by thugs and blinded. To save him from suffering the shock of his wife's loss, Louise steps in and takes his wife's place. She happily takes care of Thwaite, but then Trixie shows up once again. Louise's place by Thwaite's side is threatened, but in pictures of the 1910s, the bad girl never came out on top, so by the last frames of the final reel, Trixie is out of the picture and Louise becomes Mrs. Michael Thwaite.