Ah, those oldest of silent films: many, with severely degraded prints (if they're not lost); often coming across as distinctly staged, one scene at a time, and therefore possibly unsophisticated; characterized by acting with exaggerated body language and facial expression to compensate for lack of sound and verbal dialogue; generally displaying inserted intertitles with ease, but struggling to make legible the writing or print on pieces of paper in the camera's eye. None of these facets are inherent marks against such features, though they understandably make old movies difficult to engage with for some modern viewers - and 'A girl's folly' is not free of them. There's a casual air to the storytelling that makes it seem like this isn't terribly concerned with its own legacy, a care for passive amusement over lasting investment for the viewer. (As if to accentuate the point, fairly or not it feels like the plot doesn't really show up until about halfway through.) It's a title that's not likely to appeal to those who aren't already enamored of the silent era, but both on its own merits and as a surviving slice of early cinema it still deserves remembrance.
In turn we are treated to light humor, mild drama, and glimmers of earnest heart as the narrative progresses. Some cleverness is dotted throughout, such as in depicting a film within the film, and there are tricks of editing and cinematography that in 1917 were still rather novel and advanced. Moreover, there's an unexpected level of detail in some shots, to say nothing of the attention given to costume design, hair and makeup, and production design at large. And even though the material is quite unbothered, the assembled cast do a fine job of bringing their characters to life from one moment to the next, and helping to realize the story. I suppose it's worth noting that, as was broadly true of pictures from 100 years ago, there are instances of antiquated attitudes or values here and there - language employed in intertitles relating dialogue, a stereotypical reaction to a small critter. In fairness, however, it's all in the spirit of a good time, and no such indelicacy impresses as anything more than "tired."
In no capacity does 'A girl's folly' stand out so much as to demand viewership. Make no mistake, this is simpler entertainment for a simpler time. The plot we do ultimately get, of a small-town girl aspiring to more and learning something along the way, is suitably enjoyable, if unremarkable. Everyone involved does a swell job of selling that story. Only, except for the basic fact that it's a surviving silent film, there's no specific reason why this should earn one's time over its many contemporaries or successors. I want to like it more than I do, for that matter, but a feature that isn't striking in one way or another suffers a noteworthy strike against it, and that's on top of the discretely indifferent flavor of the plot. Still, though when all is said and done you don't need to go out of your way for it, this is modestly worthwhile if you come across it. Provided you're looking for a pleasant diversion over an absorbing barnburner, 'A girl's folly' is a duly satisfying way to spend an hour.