FLAMING YOUTH (1923)

Colleen at a dressing table applying perfume to her lips, a tattoo on her upper arms, (in the costume with the Spanish comb in her hair) she then walks around the room in a seductive manner then goes to the top of the staircase to look down at the party.

Next scene she is dancing with a young man, wearing a different dress (with rows of mink trim, in a geometric pattern). Colleen states, “Well, anyone could dance with as good a dancer as you are!”  She leans against the bottom of the staircase as the boy goes for drinks.

Next scene, Milton Sills “A wanderer, who has found life a rather amusing tragedy” he picks up a portrait of Colleen’s mother and she says, “Mother told us about knowing you in Paris. Were you very much in love with her?”  Milton “To me, my dear your mother seemed a rare and radiant – spirit.” He goes on the say “So you are Pat! I pictured you as still a child, your mother talked about. You make me feel quite old. Your mother use to tell me of you and your sisters. Once she said, Wait until they grow up, then come back to America and marry one of them.”  To which Colleen states “And did you wait?”

Next scene is at a party where all of the couples are on the floor necking, while a man with his trousers rolled up to the knee and without his Tux jacket and wearing a fringed lampshade around his waist is leading them singing  “Here We Go Gathering Nuts In May” while he is doing a very fey dance.

Next scene finds Colleen in her mink trimmed dress kissing Milton Sills

Next scene “The dedication of Mr. & Mrs. T. Jameson James’ new swimming pool- Motto for the evening: Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop (of it) to drink.”

The scene opens with the “spirit of Flaming Youth” doing a Hula in the middle of the pool, partially obscured by coursing fountains. CM and MS laugh as a drunken man goes to the girl and carries her away. CM that states that “ Don’t be alarmed if I go all to smash in your hands – I’m not responsible when I’m listening to wonderful music (a Hawaiian Band)” The Me James gets up and announces  “I vote that we light up the pool and take a plunge – anyway we like!” CM tells MS “Mr. Scott, I thinks it is time to take me home.” The revelers go off screen than return in silhouette backlit, and frolic in their underwear dancing around and diving into the pool like cannibals, it last longer than you would think.