No Children Wanted

Little Dot Jarvis is tolerated, but not loved, by her ambitious parents, who send her to boarding school so they can move into a fashionable apartment building that does not allow children. At school, Dot is treated so cruelly that she runs away, but a kind farmer takes her to the police station and she is returned to her parents. When Dot's father becomes involved in a scheme to smuggle arms into Mexico, Dot's photograph prevents newspaper owner Robert Chase from exposing him. Repentant, Dot's parents finally give her the love she had so sorely missed.

Directed by Sherwood MacDonald, No Children Wanted leans on a strong ensemble — Gloria Joy — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1918.