In the Heart of a Fool

• 1920

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This first-rate drama, which featured a stellar circa 1920 cast, was based on the novel by William Allen White. Newspaper editor Grant Adams (James Kirkwood) is engaged to Laura (Mary Thurman), the daughter of Dr. Nesbit (John Burton). But then socially ambitious school teacher Margaret Muller (Anna Q. Nilsson) comes to town and rooms with Adams' mother (Kate Tancray). She makes use of Adams for her own selfish needs, causing a rift between him and Laura. Margaret becomes the mother of Adams' illegitimate son, and, although his mother claims the boy as her own, Laura's father knows the truth and refuses to let Adams marry his daughter. Laura winds up marrying the womanizing Tom Van Dorn (Philo McCullough), while Margaret weds Van Dorn's law partner, Henry Fenn (Ward Crane). Predictably, Van Dorn and Margaret have an affair and both couples divorce. Meanwhile, Adams has become a mine foreman and has been working to improve the miners' conditions. He is injured in an explosion and Laura nurses him back to health. The miners strike and the owner hires strikebreakers in his unsuccessful attempt to get rid of Adams. Van Dorn is responsible for the death of Adams' son by Margaret, who goes insane. She shoots Van Dorn, while Laura and Adams are united. Fenn finds a new love in Violet Mauling (Maryland Morne), another one of Van Dorn's victims.