Why Be Good? (1929) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Pert Kelly's courtship with Winthrop Peabody Jr. challenges social judgments about female virtue and ultimately changes Senior's judgment.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Warnings Before Courtship

Junior prepares to begin work at his father's department store while Senior warns him about women and female employees. Pert wins a dance contest and attracts Junior's attention.

Key Events

• Junior Prepares for Work — Junior prepares to spend the night with friends before starting work at his father's department store. Characters: Winthrop Peabody Jr., Winthrop Peabody Sr. Location: Peabody family home
• Senior Warns Junior — Senior lectures Junior about women and warns him to avoid female employees. Characters: Winthrop Peabody Sr., Winthrop Peabody Jr. Location: Peabody family home
• Friends Plan Night Out — Junior and his friends prepare to frolic before his first workday. Characters: Winthrop Peabody Jr. Location: Unspecified social setting
• Pert Wins Dance Contest — Pert wins a dance contest and attracts attention from several gentlemen. Characters: Pert Kelly Location: Dance contest
• Questionable Suitors Approach — Gentlemen of questionable character woo Pert after her victory. Characters: Pert Kelly Location: Dance contest
• Junior Notices Pert — Junior notices Pert and becomes interested in her. Characters: Pert Kelly, Winthrop Peabody Jr. Location: Dance contest

The Cost of Tardiness

Junior drives Pert home and arranges a date, but her late night causes her to arrive tardy at work. Senior fires her after discovering the situation at the personnel office.

Key Events

• Junior Drives Pert Home — Junior drives Pert home and arranges a date for the following night. Characters: Pert Kelly, Winthrop Peabody Jr. Location: Road to Pert's home
• Pert Arrives Tardy — After staying out late, Pert arrives late for work. Characters: Pert Kelly Location: Department store
• Personnel Office Meeting — Pert reports to the personnel office and is surprised to find Junior working there. Characters: Pert Kelly, Winthrop Peabody Jr. Location: Personnel office
• Senior Fires Pert — Senior sees the situation and fires Pert from the department store. Characters: Pert Kelly, Winthrop Peabody Jr., Winthrop Peabody Sr. Location: Personnel office

Gifts and Competing Warnings

Junior explains that he did not fire Pert, and they arrange another date. Gifts arrive for Pert while both fathers' warnings frame the upcoming encounter.

Key Events

• Junior Clarifies the Firing — Junior tells Pert that he was not the person who terminated her. Characters: Pert Kelly, Winthrop Peabody Jr. Location: Department store
• Another Date Planned — Pert and Junior schedule another date after discussing the dismissal. Characters: Pert Kelly, Winthrop Peabody Jr. Location: Department store
• Gifts Arrive for Pert — Lavish gifts arrive for Pert to wear on her next date with Junior. Characters: Pert Kelly, Winthrop Peabody Jr. Location: Pert's home
• Pa Questions Modern Men — Pa admonishes Pert about the lack of virtue among modern men. Characters: Pert Kelly, Pa Kelly Location: Kelly family home
• Senior Repeats His Warning — Senior again warns Junior about women before the next date. Characters: Winthrop Peabody Sr., Winthrop Peabody Jr. Location: Peabody family home

The Virtue Test

Junior tests Pert by trying to push her beyond her personal limits. Pert protests and passes the test by maintaining her boundaries.

Key Events

• Second Date Begins — Pert and Junior meet for the planned date while Junior prepares his test. Characters: Pert Kelly, Winthrop Peabody Jr. Location: Unspecified date setting
• Junior Tests Pert — Junior deliberately attempts to push Pert beyond her personal limits. Characters: Pert Kelly, Winthrop Peabody Jr. Location: Unspecified date setting
• Pert Protests Pressure — Pert protests Junior's pressure and maintains her personal boundaries. Characters: Pert Kelly, Winthrop Peabody Jr. Location: Unspecified date setting
• Pert Passes the Test — Pert's refusal to surrender her limits proves her virtue to Junior. Characters: Pert Kelly, Winthrop Peabody Jr. Location: Unspecified date setting

Marriage Ends the Doubt

Pert and Junior marry that night and prove her virtue to Senior. Senior can no longer refute the conclusion established by Pert's conduct.

Key Events

• Marriage That Night — Pert and Junior marry on the same night as the virtue test. Characters: Pert Kelly, Winthrop Peabody Jr. Location: Unspecified wedding setting
• Virtue Proven to Senior — Pert and Junior prove her virtue to Senior after their marriage. Characters: Pert Kelly, Winthrop Peabody Jr., Winthrop Peabody Sr. Location: Peabody family setting
• Senior Cannot Refute Her — Senior can no longer refute Pert's virtue after the marriage and its proof. Characters: Pert Kelly, Winthrop Peabody Jr., Winthrop Peabody Sr. Location: Peabody family setting

Story Breakdown

• Family Warnings — Both families frame the romance through parental concerns about virtue and modern behavior.
  • Senior Warns Junior — Winthrop Peabody Sr. tells Junior to avoid women and female employees.
  • Pa Advises Pert — Pa Kelly warns Pert about the lack of virtue among modern men.
• Dance Contest — Pert's public success brings her into Junior's attention and begins their courtship.
  • Pert Wins Contest — Pert wins a dance contest and attracts several suitors.
  • Junior Notices Pert — Junior notices Pert, drives her home, and arranges a date.
• Workplace Collision — Pert's late arrival brings her romance into direct conflict with Senior's department store authority.
  • Tardy Work Arrival — Pert arrives late after staying out with Junior.
  • Senior Fires Pert — Senior discovers the situation and terminates Pert's employment.
• Renewed Courtship — Junior separates himself from the firing and restores the possibility of another date with Pert.
  • Junior Explains Firing — Junior tells Pert that he did not terminate her.
  • Gifts Reach Pert — Lavish gifts arrive for Pert to wear on the next date.
• Virtue Test — Junior turns the next date into a test of Pert's ability to maintain her personal boundaries.
  • Junior Applies Pressure — Junior tries to push Pert beyond her personal limits.
  • Pert Resists — Pert protests and passes the test by refusing to surrender her boundaries.
• Marriage Proof — The courtship concludes with marriage and a final demonstration that Senior's doubts about Pert were unfounded.
  • Marriage That Night — Pert and Junior marry on the night of the test.
  • Senior Concedes — Pert and Junior prove her virtue, leaving Senior unable to refute it.

Directed by

William A. Seiter

Key Cast

• Colleen Moore — Pert Kelly
• Bodil Rosing — Ma Kelly
• John St. Polis — Pa Kelly
• Neil Hamilton — Winthrop Peabody Jr.
• Edward Martindel — Winthrop Peabody Sr.