Released 100 Years Ago Today - 13 April 1919 (USA)

Pitfalls of a Big City (1919)

Director: Frank Lloyd

Writers: Bennett Cohen (screenplay) (as Bennett R. Cohen), Bennett Cohen (story) (as Bennett R. Cohen)

Stars: Gladys Brockwell, William Scott, William Sheer

Genre: Drama

Time: (6 reels) 1h

Country: USA

Language: English

Release Date: 13 April 1919 (USA)

Filming Locations: San Quentin State Prison, San Quentin, California, USA

Production Co: Fox Film Corporation

Survival status: (unknown)

Current rights holder: Public domain.

Plot

Tenement dweller Molly Moore, trying to forget her crooked past and go straight, runs a cheap restaurant in the underworld district in order to educate her younger sister Marion. Jerry Sullivan and Spike Davis, two friends from Molly's past, are released from prison. Jerry has always

loved Molly and is determined to find work despite Spike's bad influence. When Spike forces himself on Marion during her visit to Molly, Molly sends her back to her educated friends. Marion then becomes engaged to Ted Pemberton, the brother of her boarding school friend Alice. Spike plans to rob the Pemberton home on the night of the engagement party, and threatens to expose Molly's past if she does not help him. Molly refuses, but when she follows him to the Pemberton home to dissuade him, she is arrested by the police while Spike escapes. Jerry locates Spike, and with the aid of Dave Garrity, a plainclothed policeman, Spike is arrested and Molly freed. Jerry and Molly wed and rebuild their lives.