Shirley Kaye (1917) C.K.Y. Film Corp. Distributor: Select Pictures Corp. Director: Joseph Kaufman. Scenario: Margaret Turnbull. Camera: William Marshall. Gowns: Lucile (Lady Duff Gordon). Cast: Clara Kimball Young, Corliss Giles, George Fawcett, George Backus, Claire Whitney, Nellie Lindrich, John Sunderland, Mrs. F.O. Winthrop, Frank Otto. Comedy in which a clever society girl uses her wiles to save the family railroad business from a hostile takeover. 5 reels. This film is apparently LOST

Review from Variety, December 1917?

Clara Kimball Young's second picture as a Select star is "Shirley Kaye," adapted from Hulbert Footner's play of the same name. The scenario was made by Margaret Turnbull, directed by Joseph Kaufman and photographed by William Marshall. The piece was used as a play for Elsie Ferguson on the legitimate state. It is straight drama, unfolded in breezy comedy form, and as all the characters are people of wealth they are interesting to patrons of the picture emporiums. Egerton Kaye is president of a railroad and his daughter, Shirley, is a social leader. A western financier, T.J. Magen, secures sufficient proxies to give him control of the railroad, and he decides to replace the elderly president. Shirley hears of it and by making use of her social position, wins over not only Magen but his young associate, John Rowson. She succeeds in having her father retained as president, Rowson is made general manager, Magen's daughter is taken up by society and enabled to marry an earl. Shirley gets Rowson for a husband, and everybody gets what he wanted. A lustrous cast, high class production and direction and all details given careful and painstaking attention.

Reviews from Moving Picture World

"Shirley Kaye"
Five-Part Screen Version of Hulbert Footner's Stage Play Makes Pleasant Comedy for Clara Kimball Young--Distributed by Select Pictures Corporation.
Reviewed by Edward Weitzel.

Society and the financial world clash pleasantly in a five-part screen version of Hulbert Footner's stage play, "Shirley Kaye," Clara Kimball Young having the title role. The picture was directed by Joseph Kaufman, and is released by Select Pictures Corporation. Elsie Ferguson originated the part of the eastern society girl, who uses her position to fight a battle with a western railroad king and save her father from ruin. Clara Kimball Young brings the beauty and refinement of manner necessary to the part, and the entire production is marked by the proper atmosphere of wealth and good breeding. The locations and interior sets are always in the picture.

[Picture omitted--Young and a man]

The scenario was made by Margaret Turnbull. The situations in "Shirley Kaye" never rise to any lofty dramatic pitch, but the spirited way in which the young girl, who is supposed to be a society idler, wins her battle against two determined and experienced railroad executives is bound to interest the spectator. T.L. Magen, a western railroad king and the father of a socially ambitious daughter, comes to New York with his general manager, John Rowson, and his family. Shirley is attracted by the young man, but he is known as a woman hater. The girl tricks him into giving her information that enables her to defeat the scheme against her father. Magen forgives Shirley for the sake of his daughter and the recognition Shirley has secured for her; but Rowson refuses to have anything further to do with the girl and returns to the West. She goes after him on the pretext that he must be forced to accept the general managership of her father's road. She finds him at his hunting lodge in the mountains and convinces him that a woman hater is the most foolish type of mankind.

Corliss Giles plays opposite to the star as John Rowson. He belongs to the virile type of actor, and is always satisfactory. George Fawcett is a humorous and commanding figure as T. L. Magen, and Claire Whitney is winsome and pretty as his daughter. The other parts are in the hands of George Backus, Nellie Lindrich, John Sunderland, Mrs. F.O. Winthrop and Frank Otto.

SELECT PICTURES CORP.
SHIRLEY KAYE. (Seven Parts--April). The cast: The cast: John Rowson (Corliss Giles); T.L. Magen (George Fawcett); Egerton Kaye (George Backus); Daisy Magen (Claire Whitney); Mrs. Magen (Nellie Lindrich); Earl Rosselvin (John Sunderland); Mrs. Bayliss (Mrs. F.O. Winthrop); Dingwall (Frank Otto); Shirley Kaye (Clara Kimball Young). From the play by Hulbert Footner. Scenario Margaret Turnbull. Directed by Joseph Kaufman.

Shirley Kaye is the vivacious daughter of Egerton Kaye, president of the great Union Central Railroad. The latter holds his position through his descent from "Pirate" Kaye, who founded the line, rather than through any executive ability of his own. Shirley is queen of the most exclusive Long Island set, and clever as she is lovely to look at.

From the West comes T.J. Magen, a rough but lion-hearted financier, who buys the house next door to the Kayes. Magen cares little for society, and the elaborate household which their wealth forces them to support is a constant worry to his simple and unassuming wife. But the daughter, "Daisy," yearns with all her heart to break into the society and swim where Shirley Kaye reigns supreme.

T.J. and his younger associate, John Rowson, who, incidentally, hates all women, especially Easterners, secure a majority of the proxies of Union Central shareholders. Believing that new blood would improve the finances of the U.C. they determine to oust Egerton Kaye, the figure-head president, at the next directors' meeting.

With breaking heart Kaye tells his daughter of the impending blow, which means not alone the loss of his position but also the loss of the family interest in the road. Shirley, angered at the conspiracy, rises supremely to the emergency. She uses her wiles on T.J., dickers with him for his daughter's social position and agrees to give Daisy her heart's desire if he will ally himself with the Kaye interests.

She wins the allegiance of Magen, but Rowson, believing her to be a cold-blooded seeker after money and social position, abruptly severs his connection with the venture and leaves for the West. In the end Shirley goes after him and proves herself as capable in love piracy as in the realm of high finance.

Last revised October 14, 2005