The Pulse of Life

Lisetta grows up on Capri as the fisherman's daughter, sharing a crowded house with her father and brother. When a polished Italian named Serrani, now wealthy from New York, visits the island, he tempts her to leave home for America. He does not keep his word, and Lisetta soon finds herself adrift in a bustling city. She becomes a dancer in a dim cafe run by a hard edged manager called Dago Joe, where the air hums with risk and music. There she attracts Stanford Graham, an artist who hires her as his model and notices more than her looks. Back on Capri, her brother Domenic heads for New York to restore his sister's honor. Her brother's intent remains unsettled.

Directed by Rex Ingram, The Pulse of Life adapts Eugenie Magnus Ingleton's work and debuted in 1917 as a silent drama. The cast centers on Gypsy Hart in the lead with Wedgwood Nowell, supported by a budding ensemble throughout production.

Box office records for The Pulse of Life from 1917 are not readily accessible, a common issue with films from the silent era. It saw distribution through the standard networks of the time, but precise grosses remain undocumented in markets.

There are no well documented awards or nominations for this title. Given its age and status as a lesser known silent drama, it did not appear in major ceremonies such as the Oscars or Golden Globes, though regional recognitions may exist in archives. Those scraps of recognition are rarely traced.

Critical notes on The Pulse of Life are sparse, but the film likely leans on themes of allure and risk, the pull of city life versus traditional coastal roots, and the price of dreams chased across the Atlantic. Performances carry a stark silent era edge and the costs that follow.