What's His Name (1914) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Nellie's pursuit of a chorus career separates her from Harvey and Phoebe, but their daughter's illness brings her back to her family.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

A Chorus Opportunity

Nellie builds a family life with Harvey before befriending a traveling chorus girl. She accepts the offered job, and the family moves to New York together.

Key Events

• Nellie Marries Harvey — Baker's daughter Nellie marries soda fountain operator Harvey. Characters: Nellie, Harvey Location: Their tiny hometown
• Years of Married Life — Nellie and Harvey spend a handful of happy years married. Characters: Nellie, Harvey Location: Their tiny hometown
• The Chorus Girl Arrives — Nellie meets and befriends a chorus girl passing through town. Characters: Nellie, Nellie Location: Their tiny hometown
• A Chorus Job Offer — The chorus girl offers Nellie a job for twenty dollars a week. Characters: Nellie, Nellie Location: Their tiny hometown
• Nellie Accepts — Nellie accepts the chorus position. Characters: Nellie Location: Their tiny hometown
• Family Moves to New York — Harvey and Phoebe accompany Nellie so she will not be separated from her family. Characters: Nellie, Harvey, Phoebe, The Child Location: New York

Success and Separation

Nellie's popularity attracts Fairfax, while the theater manager advises her to distance herself from her family. Harvey and Phoebe live in Tarrytown as Nellie works in Manhattan and visits only on Sundays.

Key Events

• Nellie Gains Popularity — Nellie's popularity in the chorus rises rapidly. Characters: Nellie Location: Manhattan
• Fairfax Takes Interest — Nellie's success attracts wealthy millionaire Fairfax. Characters: Nellie, Fairfax Location: Manhattan
• Manager Advises Distance — The theater manager suggests Nellie distance herself from her husband and daughter. Characters: Nellie Location: Manhattan
• Family Settles in Tarrytown — Nellie moves Harvey and Phoebe into a house with a maid and cook. Characters: Nellie, Harvey, Phoebe, The Child Location: Tarrytown
• Sunday Family Visits — Nellie works in Manhattan and visits her family only on Sundays. Characters: Nellie, Harvey, Phoebe, The Child Location: Tarrytown

Humiliation and Expulsion

Harvey's repeated humiliation culminates in his appearance at Nellie's dressing-room party with a pistol. Fairfax offers him money, Harvey punches Fairfax and is beaten, and Nellie sends Harvey and Phoebe away from the Tarrytown home.

Key Events

• Harvey Is Humiliated — Repeated humiliation leaves Harvey known as What's His Name. Characters: Harvey Location: Not specified
• Harvey Appears with Pistol — Fed up with humiliation, Harvey appears at Nellie's party wielding a pistol. Characters: Harvey, Nellie Location: Nellie's dressing room
• Fairfax Offers Money — Fairfax offers Harvey a large sum to let Nellie go. Characters: Fairfax, Harvey Location: Tarrytown home
• Harvey Punches Fairfax — Harvey punches Fairfax, then is beaten. Characters: Harvey, Fairfax Location: Tarrytown home
• Family Evicted — Nellie stops paying rent and sends Harvey and Phoebe away with the plaque. Characters: Nellie, Harvey, Phoebe, The Child Location: Tarrytown

The Road Back

Harvey and Phoebe begin a month-long walk toward their hometown while Nellie travels to Reno to file for divorce. When Phoebe becomes dangerously ill, Harvey contacts Nellie, who abandons the divorce plan and returns to care for her daughter.

Key Events

• Walk Toward Home — Harvey and Phoebe begin their month-long trek home on foot. Characters: Harvey, Phoebe, The Child Location: Road from Tarrytown toward their hometown
• Nellie Travels to Reno — While they travel, Nellie goes to Reno to file for divorce. Characters: Nellie Location: Reno, Nevada
• Phoebe Becomes Dangerously Ill — Phoebe becomes life-threateningly sick, and Harvey contacts Nellie. Characters: Harvey, Phoebe, The Child, Nellie Location: During the trek home
• Nellie Returns to Family — Nellie abandons the divorce plan and returns to care for Phoebe. Characters: Nellie, Harvey, Phoebe, The Child Location: Not specified

Story Breakdown

• Hometown Marriage — Nellie and Harvey begin a family life in their small hometown.
  • Nellie Marries Harvey — Nellie, a baker's daughter, marries soda fountain operator Harvey.
  • Happy Years Together — The couple share a handful of happy years before Nellie encounters a new opportunity.
• Chorus Girl's Offer — A traveling chorus girl befriends Nellie and offers her a paid position.
  • New Friendship — Nellie befriends a chorus girl passing through town.
  • Paid Chorus Work — The chorus girl offers Nellie a place in the chorus for twenty dollars a week, and Nellie accepts.
• New York Ambitions — The family moves to New York as Nellie's chorus career develops.
  • Family Relocates — Harvey and Phoebe accompany Nellie so she will not be separated from them.
  • Rising Popularity — Nellie gains popularity and attracts millionaire Fairfax's attention.
• Growing Family Distance — Nellie's career and Fairfax's influence contribute to her separation from Harvey and Phoebe.
  • Manager's Advice — The theater manager suggests Nellie distance herself from her husband and daughter.
  • Sunday Visits — Harvey and Phoebe live in Tarrytown while Nellie works in Manhattan and visits only on Sundays.
• Harvey's Humiliation — Harvey's distress leads to a confrontation and a violent clash with Fairfax.
  • Dressing Room Pistol — After repeated humiliation, Harvey appears at Nellie's party wielding a pistol.
  • Money and Violence — Fairfax offers Harvey money to let Nellie go; Harvey punches Fairfax and is beaten.
• Family Sent Away — Nellie ends the household arrangement, leaving Harvey and Phoebe to make their way home.
  • Tarrytown Eviction — Nellie stops paying rent and sends Harvey and Phoebe away with a wall plaque.
  • Month-Long Trek — Harvey and Phoebe walk toward their tiny hometown.
• Divorce and Illness — Nellie's divorce plan is interrupted by Phoebe's serious illness during the journey.
  • Reno Filing — Nellie travels to Reno, Nevada, to file for divorce.
  • Harvey Calls Nellie — When Phoebe becomes life-threateningly sick, Harvey contacts Nellie.
• Return to Family — Phoebe's illness changes Nellie's decision and ends the separation.
  • Divorce Plan Abandoned — Nellie decides not to continue with the divorce plan.
  • Care for Phoebe — Nellie returns to her family to care for her daughter.

Directed by

Cecil B. DeMille

Key Cast

• Max Figman — Harvey
• Lolita Robertson — Nellie
• Sydney Deane — Uncle Peter
• Richard L'Estrange — Best Man
• Merta Carpenter — Friend Of Nellie's