"East Is East" (1916) - hidden gem
Florence Turner
Directed by Henry Edwards
Produced by Florence Turner
Scenario by Henry Edwards
Based on a play by Philip Hubbard and Gwendolen Logan
Starring Florence Turner, Henry Edwards
Cinematography Tom White
Distributed by Mutual Film Corporation (USA)
Release date November 9, 1916 (USA)
Running time 71 minutes
Country UK
Language Silent film, English intertitles
This film is part of our series 'Hidden Gems'. It can be watched by registered users who make a donation. For more details, please click here.
We have included this film in our program to illustrate the work and contributions of our star Florence Turner.
Let's all give our thanks to a private collector named Mike for preserving this film and making it available to the public. You can find more of Mike's rare silent films here.
"East Is East" is a drama and romance. East here means eastern London, inhabited by "common" uneducated folks living in poverty, as opposed to the western part of the city, where everything is the opposite (i.e. uncommon educated folks living in luxury).
Florence Turner is a simple and poor, but happy girl. Henry Edwards, her childhood pal and admirer, declares to her and suggests marriage, but she brushes him off. One day she is shocked to discover that she is named the heiress to an enormous fortune. There is a catch, however, in one condition of the will according to which she must spend three years in the "West" refining her social skills for her new position. After much soul-searching she accepts and the first thing she does is loan money to Henry Edwards to start a business.
Florence Turner has a very hard time adapting to the new environment. She misses her old friends, and most of all Henry Edwards. To make Florence break away from the past, her guardian takes her on an extended trip to Europe. Upon her return she meets Henry again, now a successful businessman. He, however, decides to stay away from her until he also refines his manners and his grammar in order to be equal to her.
Unfortunately, Florence Turner falls prey to ever stronger sadness and unhappiness, and in a moment of desperation accepts a wedding proposal from a man she does not love. At that time Henry Edwards feels that he has made enough improvements and is ready to propose to her, only to find out that she has been engaged to another man.
Soon Florence Turner gets a sobering shock when she overhears her would-be husband state that his only reason for marrying her is her money. She breaks the engagement right away and leaves all her fortune to charity.
After that Florence Turner recalls all the happy times she had with Henry Edwards. She tries to find him, but he has sold his business and left without a trace.
Click to enlarge:
East is East
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Florence Turner is a poor girl, who sometimes dreams of having beautiful clothes in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner is at home with her family in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner gets ready to go out with her pal Henry Edwards in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner tells Henry Edwards 'Let's go to the movies' in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner waits patiently as Henry Edwards counts his change in "East is East" (1916).
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Local lawyers get a message from overseas to look for a rich heiress (Florence Turner) in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner, the richest heiress in town, borrows a dollar from Henry Edwards in "East is East" (1916).
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The lawyers admit defeat after failing to find Florence Turner in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner heads for the countryside for work in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner is happy when Henry Edwards joins her in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner and Henry Edwards will have a house like this one day, so he says in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner stops Henry Edwards from stealing a chicken (during daytime) in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner is forcefully kissed by Henry Edwards in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner responds by slapping, scratching, kicking and biting Henry Edwards in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner is met accidentally by the lawyer that looked for her and is now on vacation in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner reacts to being called the richest heiress in town in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner lets the lawyers check her 'berf certificate' in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner's fortune comes with a catch in "East is East" (1916).
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After some agony Florence Turner agrees in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner bids good-bye to Henry Edwards in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner is introduced to her guardian in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner gets used to having a maid in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner is not happy in the rich house in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner is excited to meet Henry Edwards again in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner tells Henry Edwards to go see the lawyers in "East is East" (1916).
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The lawyers give Henry Edwards a check from Florence Turner in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner is not happy to leave for a long trip abroad in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner learns about the successful business of Henry Edwards in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner is sad in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner remembers happier days in "East is East" (1916).
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Henry Edwards polishes his image in "East is East" (1916).
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Henry Edwards polishes his grammar in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner writes that she is very lonely and unhappy in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner is first shocked, then accepts a wedding proposal from a man she does not love in "East is East" (1916).
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Henry Edwards learns that Florence Turner is engaged in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner discovers the true motives of her would-be husband in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner takes a moment to assimilate the horrible truth in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner breaks the engagement and leaves in "East is East" (1916).
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Florence Turner looks unsuccessfully for Henry Edwards, who has left without a trace in "East is East" (1916).
Florence Turner
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