Prudence on Broadway (1919): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1919, Prudence on Broadway is a comedy film directed by Frank Borzage. “A Dramatic Comedy with plenty of action in which demureness disarms a scoundrel and is trapped by a woman's wit” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Prudence's ( Olive Thomas ) parents send her from their Pennsylvania Quaker colony to a fashionable girls seminary, hoping she can learn about the devil's tricks, instead she engages in girlish pranks, but uses her pure appearance to escape blame. Later, Prudence visits her New York aunt, a society matron, and soon attracts an array of male admirers. She falls in love with wealthy Grayson Mills, but John Melbourne, who lives off of his wife's wealth, plots to seduce her. After Melbourne loans Prudence $200 to pay a gambling debt, he forces her to go to a roadhouse by threatening to show her stern father her canceled check. At dinner, Prudence produces a love letter which Melbourne had earlier written to an actress, and says that if she is not back by midnight, her hotel clerk will show Melbourne's wife his nineteen other love letters. After Melbourne hurries her back, he discovers that she only had the one letter. Prudence now becomes engaged to Grayson.

Who’s in it. Prudence on Broadway stars Olive Thomas as Prudence, Francis McDonald as Grayson Mills, Harvey Clark as John Melbourne and J.P. Wild as John Ogilvie, among others.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Prudence on Broadway page.

If you liked it. Fans of Prudence on Broadway tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.