Within the Law

Norma Talmadge is a shop girl at Joseph Kilgour's department store. She is convicted of stealing when merchandise is found in her locker, even though she swears she didn't do it. At Kilgour's insistence, she is sentenced to three years in prison. She sees him as she is being sent away and tells him that if he wants to stop employees stealing, pay them a decent wage; he pays no attention because he is distracted by dealing with the wife of a banker who has been caught shoplifting, and who demands an apology. Miss Talmadge swears vengeance.

After serving her time, Miss Talmadge can't find a job, and tries to kill herself. She is rescued by Lew Cody, a friend of Eileen Percy, whom Miss Talmadge got along with in prison. They go into the Broken Hearts racket: Miss Percy fascinates decrepit Tom Ricketts in writing her compromising letter, which are returned when their lawyer gets paid for them: strictly, although barely legal. In the meantime, Miss Talmadge meets Kilgour's son, Jack Mulhall, and he falls in love with her. Her past is revealed by his father just after they have wed.

There are some serious undertones to this movie, after how the rich get justice and the poor get the night stock of the law; this is carried through to the very end. Even though Miss Talmadge may be redeemed, there's no change in that basic problem.

In the meantime, this is a handsome little modern -- for 1923 -- drama, with Miss Percy stealing the show every chance she gets. Miss Talmadge gets to suffer, which must please her fans, and all the young men adore her. It's handsomely shot by cameramen Norbert Brodine and Tony Gaudio, and Frank Lloyd doe a nice job of directing all on hand. With Helen Ferguson, Ward Crane, DeWitt Jennings, and Lionel Belmore.