The Fortune Teller

Marjorie Rambeau's husband divorces her takes custody of her child in Albert Capellani's drama, The Fortune Teller (1920), based on the 1919 play by Leighton Osmun. After he accuses her of having an affair with a circus manager, she takes a job as circus fortuneteller. She begins to deteriorate morally as the result of her heavy drinking. Two decades later, Raymond McKee, her son, now down on his luck, comes to her to have his fortune read. Without revealing her identity, she inspires him to carry on. The young man leaves and becomes a successful political candidate. In addition, his fiancée is the governor's daughter. Motivated by her son's good fortune, his mother reforms and straightens out her life. In the end the mother and son are then reunited.

The Fortune Teller is a solid fascination of circus drama. It touches a nostalgic nerve and makes you feel youthful. Unfortunately, Capellani would soon after begin to suffer from paralysis in 1923. It's entertaining, and this in a must for fans of the circus films of the twenties.