Modern Mothers

Adele Dayton, a famous actress, visits her daughter, Mildred, whom she left with relatives as an infant. Her guardians, Mazie and John, permit the visit provided Adele conceals her relationship from Mildred. While Adele is there, she unintentionally attracts the admiration of Mildred's sweetheart, aspiring playwright David Starke, when she helps him sell one of his plays to a Broadway producer. David goes to New York city to open the play, neglecting Mildred. On opening night Mildred visits Adele and finds her in an embrace with David; she upbraids Adele for stealing David's affection from her and returns to her home in Massachusetts. Realizing she has hurt her own daughter, Adele sacrifices her love for David, snubbing him with a cold shoulder, he soon returns to Mildred and they marry.

Directed by Phil Rosen, Modern Mothers leans on a strong ensemble — Helene Chadwick, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Ethel Grey Terry — 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 drama titles of 1928.