Two Sisters from Boston
In Boston at the turn of the 20th century, prim Martha Chandler is performing a piano recital at an elite social gathering. The recital is interrupted when guests arrive and rapidly circulate the goss…
Two Sisters from Boston
In Boston at the turn of the 20th century, prim Martha Chandler is performing a piano recital at an elite social gathering. The recital is interrupted when guests arrive and rapidly circulate the gossip that Martha's sister Abigail, who is supposed to be studying music in New York, has been seen performing scantily-clad in a low-class cafe on the Bowery. Fearing that such a scandal would ruin his campaign for mayor, the sisters' guardian, uncle Jonathan, immediately sets out for New York to determine the truth, accompanied by Martha and her aunt Jennifer. Abigail is indeed working in a bawdy show at the "The Golden Rooster" cafe - where she is know as "High C Susie" - in order to finance her lessons, but she well knows that if her puritanical uncle discovers this she will be taken back to Boston and her dreams of an opera career will be ended forever. When her family arrives and reveal what they have heard, she lies, saying she is working in the chorus of the opera and explaining away the gossip as a misunderstanding. Her uncle announces they will come to see her perform at the opera that evening and he and Jennifer leave to buy tickets. Realizing she must now somehow cover up her lie, Abigail becomes frantic and rushes out, causing Martha to doubt her sister's explanation. Martha makes her way to "The Golden Rooster" where she meets Spike, part-owner of the cafe who performs with "Susie". He assures Martha that there is no "Abigail Chandler" working at the cafe, however her fears are confirmed when she sees Abigail's picture on a poster of "Susie" as she is leaving the cafe. When Abigail returns to her apartment after failing to gain admittance to the opera, she finds Martha and Spike waiting for her and realizes that her efforts to conceal the truth have failed. Spike, however, assures her that he can wheedle her into the chorus of the opera and is is successful in doing so by discreetly telling the chorus master that Abigail is the mistress of Mr Patterson, the chairman of the opera's board of directors. Before the performance begins, the chorus master makes a visit to the Patterson's theatre box where he informs Lawrence Patterson, Jr. that his young lady has been taken care of. Perplexed, Lawrence presumes that it must be his father, Lawrence Patterson, Sr., who is involved with this young woman and goes backstage to meet her. During the performance, Abigail arouses the ire of the tenor, Olaf Olstrom, by repeatedly upstaging him while attempting to make sure her family will see and hear her from the back of the audience. Her uncle and aunt depart for Boston satisfied, but Abigail, having made a spectacle of herself and barely escaping the theater, is certain that she has ruined any future chance of working at the opera. Proud of her sister's efforts to achieve her dream, Martha stays behind and refuses to give up hope, resolving to get Abigail an audition somehow. She goes to the Patterson home and meets Lawrence Patterson, Jr. He presumes that she has come to blackmail his father and, to avoid scandal, agrees to help Abigail get a contract with the opera. On the way to tell Abigail the news, Martha and Lawrence commiserate over their fallen family members and begin to fall in love. Abigail is incensed that they could presume she is the mistress of Patterson, Sr. and at first ejects Lawrence, but he then apologizes and offers to invite Abigail as his personal guest to a party at the Patterson home where she will be able to display her vocal talents in an unprejudiced setting. The only hitch is that Olstrom will be present at the party and is certain to recognize her. Spike again comes to the rescue and arranges to keep Olstrom away. Abigail's singing favorably impresses the assembled company, but she is recognized by the family butler Wrigley as "High C Susie". Martha attempts to run interference by stating that it is she, not Abigail, who is Susie, but then must prove her claim. Terrified and humiliated but determined to redeem her sister's reputation, Martha goes on in Abigail's place at "The Golden Rooster". Lawrence is shocked by Martha's on-stage exhibition and walks out in disgust, but Patterson, Sr. realizes that the untalented and prudish Martha is putting on an act to help her sister. Moved by the two sisters' dedication, Patterson, Sr. gives Abigail a leading role at the opera. Unfortunately, she is paired at the last minute with Olstrom; he recognizes her and is on the verge of walking out when Spike once more comes to the rescue, bluffing that he has embarrassing information about Olstrom. The show goes on and Olstrom is ultimately won over by Abigail's beautiful performance. Spike also goes to Lawrence to explain Martha's appearance at "The Golden Rooster" and the lovers are reconciled.
Two Sisters from Boston
Comedy,Musical,Romance
Film Details
In Boston at the turn of the 20th century, prim Martha Chandler is performing a piano recital at an elite social gathering. The recital is interrupted when guests arrive and rapidly circulate the gossip that Martha's sister Abigail, who is supposed to be studying music in New York, has been seen performing scantily-clad in a low-class cafe on the Bowery. Fearing that such a scandal would ruin his campaign for mayor, the sisters' guardian, uncle Jonathan, immediately sets out for New York to determine the truth, accompanied by Martha and her aunt Jennifer.
Abigail is indeed working in a bawdy show at the "The Golden Rooster" cafe - where she is know as "High C Susie" - in order to finance her lessons, but she well knows that if her puritanical uncle discovers this she will be taken back to Boston and her dreams of an opera career will be ended forever. When her family arrives and reveal what they have heard, she lies, saying she is working in the chorus of the opera and explaining away the gossip as a misunderstanding. Her uncle announces they will come to see her perform at the opera that evening and he and Jennifer leave to buy tickets.
Realizing she must now somehow cover up her lie, Abigail becomes frantic and rushes out, causing Martha to doubt her sister's explanation. Martha makes her way to "The Golden Rooster" where she meets Spike, part-owner of the cafe who performs with "Susie". He assures Martha that there is no "Abigail Chandler" working at the cafe, however her fears are confirmed when she sees Abigail's picture on a poster of "Susie" as she is leaving the cafe.
When Abigail returns to her apartment after failing to gain admittance to the opera, she finds Martha and Spike waiting for her and realizes that her efforts to conceal the truth have failed. Spike, however, assures her that he can wheedle her into the chorus of the opera and is is successful in doing so by discreetly telling the chorus master that Abigail is the mistress of Mr Patterson, the chairman of the opera's board of directors. Before the performance begins, the chorus master makes a visit to the Patterson's theatre box where he informs Lawrence Patterson, Jr.
that his young lady has been taken care of. Perplexed, Lawrence presumes that it must be his father, Lawrence Patterson, Sr., who is involved with this young woman and goes backstage to meet her. During the performance, Abigail arouses the ire of the tenor, Olaf Olstrom, by repeatedly upstaging him while attempting to make sure her family will see and hear her from the back of the audience.
Her uncle and aunt depart for Boston satisfied, but Abigail, having made a spectacle of herself and barely escaping the theater, is certain that she has ruined any future chance of working at the opera. Proud of her sister's efforts to achieve her dream, Martha stays behind and refuses to give up hope, resolving to get Abigail an audition somehow. She goes to the Patterson home and meets Lawrence Patterson, Jr.
He presumes that she has come to blackmail his father and, to avoid scandal, agrees to help Abigail get a contract with the opera. On the way to tell Abigail the news, Martha and Lawrence commiserate over their fallen family members and begin to fall in love. Abigail is incensed that they could presume she is the mistress of Patterson, Sr.
and at first ejects Lawrence, but he then apologizes and offers to invite Abigail as his personal guest to a party at the Patterson home where she will be able to display her vocal talents in an unprejudiced setting. The only hitch is that Olstrom will be present at the party and is certain to recognize her. Spike again comes to the rescue and arranges to keep Olstrom away.
Abigail's singing favorably impresses the assembled company, but she is recognized by the family butler Wrigley as "High C Susie". Martha attempts to run interference by stating that it is she, not Abigail, who is Susie, but then must prove her claim. Terrified and humiliated but determined to redeem her sister's reputation, Martha goes on in Abigail's place at "The Golden Rooster".
Lawrence is shocked by Martha's on-stage exhibition and walks out in disgust, but Patterson, Sr. realizes that the untalented and prudish Martha is putting on an act to help her sister. Moved by the two sisters' dedication, Patterson, Sr.
gives Abigail a leading role at the opera. Unfortunately, she is paired at the last minute with Olstrom; he recognizes her and is on the verge of walking out when Spike once more comes to the rescue, bluffing that he has embarrassing information about Olstrom. The show goes on and Olstrom is ultimately won over by Abigail's beautiful performance.
Spike also goes to Lawrence to explain Martha's appearance at "The Golden Rooster" and the lovers are reconciled..