A Proposal from the Duke (1913) watch online HD

When her guardians at the Occidental Trust Company announce she must be wed, Mary Fuller insists on a titled husband. The trust officers head over to an employment agency, pick an assortment of foreigners and dress them well for her choice in the amusing first episode of the romantic comedy serial WHO WILL MARRY MARY?

Movie serials arose in France as a way of telling stories longer than two reels. They spread in competition to feature films and for a while embraced many types of stories, including romantic comedies. By the 1920s, however, feature films had defeated them as the primary form and they became a secondary market, almost invariably action thrillers.

The form was introduced for US production in 1912, with Mary Fuller starring in WHAT HAPPENED TO MARY. This was her second serial.

A good copy of this film can be viewed on the Eye Institute site on YouTube.

Anyone who has watched the film in the Desmet collection available on the EYE site and misidentfied as this film will have realized immediately that it is no such thing. And more's the pity. It would have been very good to have had even a single episode of that pioneer serial. As it is what we actually is a rather feeble comedy called in fact The Title Cure (1913).

This picture opens a new series, called "Who Will Marry Mary?" It is a very commendable offering as entertainment to the public. Most of us can imagine, or have a pipe dream of inheriting unexpectedly a great fortune and find it a pleasant relaxation. It is just as delightful to watch Mary (we put ourselves in her place) enjoying her new riches, her country house, friends and all that goes with good fortune. If this series holds up well, it will, we predict, be even a better trump card than the former Mary pictures. At present there are many suitors for Mary's attention. One of them, a duke, is effectively disposed of and we think that most spectators will be making their choice of favorite bridegroom in Capt. Bradford. The scenes are well chosen, fairly photographed and interesting. It is directed by Walter Edwin. Mary Fuller, of course, takes the titular role. Richard Tucker plays the foreign duke and Benjamin Wilson is playing Capt, Bradford, a clean- cut American. They have the interesting parts in this picture and carry their parts well. - The Moving Picture World, August 9, 1913