By the time she was 21 Clara Kimball Young had everything going for her but as the 19teens progressed she saw a prosperous career just fritter away. Lured away from a bright future at Vitagraph, she went to World, then to Selznick where he promised to give her her own production company. "Eyes of Youth", her biggest success, was produced by Harry Garson whose meddling and bad decisions did so much to destroy her career. Also, unlike many of her contemporaries, Clara often looked older than she was, so in "Mid-Channel", at only 30, she plays a distinctly matronly Zoe Blundell who finds out in "mid-channel" that her marriage needs to be revived. Garson also directed and there seemed to be method in his madness as it had been a successful play in 1910 (96 performances) by the popular Arthur Pinero and starring Broadway royalty Ethel Barrymore as the fed up Zoe. But as was becoming the usual now, Clara was surrounded by second rate actors.
Married to a workaholic doctor who can't keep up with her late hours, her café society frolics attract the attention of three different men - dependable Peter, gossipy Claude and suave Leonard. Zoe comes across as a spoiled society brat but looking into her diary she had hoped for so much more from married life. Like wealth and the opportunity to be a help mate, also the promise not to have children so their progress will not be impeded. Zoe regrets her decision, hence her butterfly lifestyle. With the help of Peter (played by Clara's real father) they start to patch things up but instantly hit rocky waters. When they start to plan their second honeymoon she wants to ride high but he is all about budget. "I suppose you'll take me for a punt up the Thames with a bag of peanuts"!!
Leaving Theo at home Zoe goes to Italy on her own but, thanks to Claude, she is kept up to date on Theo's attentions to flirty Alice Annerly. Zoe has her own entanglements with Leonard who has flown to Italy to escape Elsie's attachment. Zoe knows nothing about this so is confused when Elsie confides her love - Zoe thought Leonard was footloose and fancy free. Once discarded by Zoe he finds himself engaged to Elsie but - oh no, after yet another falling out with Theo, Zoe seeks Leonard out, not knowing about his engagement and wanting to confess that she will marry him!! It's the old double standard, in a shocking confession Theo admits he has lived with flighty Alice but yet he cannot forgive Zoe's fling with Leonard that was just flirtation!! She, as well, doesn't realise that Leonard has now discarded her!! How will it all end!! You'll find out and it's not in a good way!!
Not nearly as good and meaty as "Eyes of Youth", this is woman's magazine stuff and at this time Young had quite a following among female fans as her dramas became more sophisticated and of more narrow appeal.
Married to a workaholic doctor who can't keep up with her late hours, her café society frolics attract the attention of three different men - dependable Peter, gossipy Claude and suave Leonard. Zoe comes across as a spoiled society brat but looking into her diary she had hoped for so much more from married life. Like wealth and the opportunity to be a help mate, also the promise not to have children so their progress will not be impeded. Zoe regrets her decision, hence her butterfly lifestyle. With the help of Peter (played by Clara's real father) they start to patch things up but instantly hit rocky waters. When they start to plan their second honeymoon she wants to ride high but he is all about budget. "I suppose you'll take me for a punt up the Thames with a bag of peanuts"!!
Leaving Theo at home Zoe goes to Italy on her own but, thanks to Claude, she is kept up to date on Theo's attentions to flirty Alice Annerly. Zoe has her own entanglements with Leonard who has flown to Italy to escape Elsie's attachment. Zoe knows nothing about this so is confused when Elsie confides her love - Zoe thought Leonard was footloose and fancy free. Once discarded by Zoe he finds himself engaged to Elsie but - oh no, after yet another falling out with Theo, Zoe seeks Leonard out, not knowing about his engagement and wanting to confess that she will marry him!! It's the old double standard, in a shocking confession Theo admits he has lived with flighty Alice but yet he cannot forgive Zoe's fling with Leonard that was just flirtation!! She, as well, doesn't realise that Leonard has now discarded her!! How will it all end!! You'll find out and it's not in a good way!!
Not nearly as good and meaty as "Eyes of Youth", this is woman's magazine stuff and at this time Young had quite a following among female fans as her dramas became more sophisticated and of more narrow appeal.