Released in spring 1925, Lilies of the Streets (also known as Lilies of the City) was a seven-reel silent feature directed by Joseph Levering and distributed by Film Booking Offices of America (FBO). Sponsored and presented by Mary E. Hamilton, New York City’s first policewoman, the picture was based on her real cases, with the story written by her assistant, Elizabeth J. Monroe. Both women appeared in the film as themselves, adding authenticity to its moral message.

The film follows Judith Lee, a wealthy flapper who falls under the sway of criminal Frank Delmore. Through a fraudulent “plea” scheme, Judith is branded a prostitute and later accused of Delmore’s murder. With the help of her loyal fiancé John Harding and policewoman Mary Hamilton, the truth emerges when Margy Hopkins — another of Delmore’s victims — confesses and clears Judith’s name.

At the time, reviewers described the film as:

• “A lesson for mothers and daughters” (Daily News, Apr 11, 1925)

• “Human-interest melodrama… should please the majority” (Moving Picture World, Apr 25, 1925)

• “Sure-fire ingredients with moments of real drama” (Exhibitors Trade Review, May 1925)

Why it matters today:

• Combines early cinema with real social reform.
• One of the few films to feature a real policewoman playing herself.

• Widely promoted across the U.S., endorsed by police departments and even Governor Alfred E. Smith.
  
  Now considered a lost film — no known print survives.