Introduction
1914 film by Allan Dwan The Hopes of Blind Alley is a 1914 American silent drama film directed (and co written) by Allan Dwan and featuring Murdock MacQuarrie, Pauline Bush and Lon .1914 film by Allan Dwan The Hopes of Blind Alley is a 1914 American silent drama film directed (and co written) by Allan Dwan and featuring Murdock MacQuarrie, Pauline Bush and Lon .
A still exists showing Lon Chaney as the Italian statuette .A still exists showing Lon Chaney as the Italian statuette .
The film is now considered to be .The film is now considered to be .
Plot
Old Jean Basse and his granddaughter Pauline live in poverty stricken Blind Alley, and they sell miniature statues to make a .Old Jean Basse and his granddaughter Pauline live in poverty stricken Blind Alley, and they sell miniature statues to make a .
Jean's one ambition in life is to own a high silk hat, and when he comes into a small inheritance, he buys a hat and plans to use the rest of money to help his neighborhood .Jean's one ambition in life is to own a high silk hat, and when he comes into a small inheritance, he buys a hat and plans to use the rest of money to help his neighborhood .
He finds out afterwards that the entire inheritance he is getting consists of nothing but a dusty old .He finds out afterwards that the entire inheritance he is getting consists of nothing but a dusty old .
Pauline is in love with a young struggling artist who lives in their building, and upon showing him the painting her father has inherited, the young artist proclaims it to be an original Van Dyke, worth a .Pauline is in love with a young struggling artist who lives in their building, and upon showing him the painting her father has inherited, the young artist proclaims it to be an original Van Dyke, worth a .
A famous artist learns of the painting and first tries to cheat Jean out of it by offering him $2.00 for it, then attempts to steal it outright, but he is .A famous artist learns of the painting and first tries to cheat Jean out of it by offering him $2.00 for it, then attempts to steal it outright, but he is .
Pauline's sweetheart manages to sell several of his paintings and then proposes marriage to .Pauline's sweetheart manages to sell several of his paintings and then proposes marriage to .
On the day of the wedding, the young couple present Jean with a brand new silk hat, but they learn the old man is .On the day of the wedding, the young couple present Jean with a brand new silk hat, but they learn the old man is .
Putting the new hat on his head, he gives his valuable painting to the newlyweds as a wedding gift from his .Putting the new hat on his head, he gives his valuable painting to the newlyweds as a wedding gift from his .
Reception
Moving Picture World stated "This (picture) has a number of strong .Moving Picture World stated "This (picture) has a number of strong .
It gives an intimate and convincing picture of tenement .It gives an intimate and convincing picture of tenement .
It develops a pleasing story, naturally and appealingly, and has a number of strong character .It develops a pleasing story, naturally and appealingly, and has a number of strong character .
Murdock MacQuarrie makes a memorable part of the old .Murdock MacQuarrie makes a memorable part of the old .
The Italian vendor of the statuettes (Lon Chaney) made a good touch, and the silk hat episode contains the right human .The Italian vendor of the statuettes (Lon Chaney) made a good touch, and the silk hat episode contains the right human .
The whole production shows an unusual feeling for picturing real life on the .The whole production shows an unusual feeling for picturing real life on the .
A strong ."
Motion Picture News stated "This story seems to ring true to human .Motion Picture News stated "This story seems to ring true to human .
The plot is .The plot is .
The action does not ."The action does not ."