Public Domain Movies

Glorious Betsy is a 1928 sound part-talkie drama film. In addition to sequences with audible dialogue or talking sequences, the film features a synchronized musical score and sound effects along with English intertitles. The soundtrack was recorded using the Vitaphone sound-on-disc system. The film is based on the 1908 play of the same name by Rida Johnson Young, and it stars Dolores Costello.

Elizabeth “Glorious Betsy” Patterson (Dolores Costello) falls in love with Jerome (Conrad Nagel), her French tutor. When her father, Colonel Patterson (Marc McDermott), informs her that the brother of Napoleon will be attending a ball in Baltimore, Jerome secretly writes to Betsy asking for a moment alone. She meets him, and he pleads for her hand in marriage. Betsy accepts.

At the ball, Captain Bonaparte is announced—and Betsy realizes that her lover is Napoleon's brother. They marry immediately. Soon after, Jerome receives word that Napoleon wants him to return to France to wed Princess Fredericka of Wurtemberg (Betty Blythe).

Betsy and Jerome travel to France, but the Emperor refuses to recognize their marriage, denying Betsy the right to set foot on French soil. Jerome swears he will never enter France without his wife. Napoleon privately convinces Betsy that if she truly loves Jerome, she must give him up for the good of France. Betsy bids him goodbye “until tomorrow,” knowing it is forever.

In Baltimore, months later, a despairing Betsy gives birth to a son. Jerome, on his way to be wed to the princess, escapes his carriage and returns to America. He and Betsy are reunited, while their baby gurgles contentedly in his cradle.

Cast
Dolores Costello as Betsy Patterson
Conrad Nagel as Jérôme Bonaparte
John Miljan as Preston
Marc McDermott as Colonel Patterson
Pasquale Amato as Napoleon Bonaparte
Michael Vavitch as Capt. St. Pierre
Andrés de Segurola as Capt. Du Fresne
Paul Panzer as The Ship's Captain
Clarissa Selwynne as Aunt Mary
Betty Blythe as Princess Frederick