Deliciously over-the-top, slightly goofy, always fun… Who among us hasn’t wanted to say, “Kiss me, My Fool!” at least once? The funny thing is, people say the line without even realizing that they are quoting a silent movie.
The line comes from A Fool There Was (1915), Theda Bara’s first vamp film. (You can read my full review here.) Bara plays a seductress who drains men of their wealth and then drives them to disgrace and, often, death. She is confronted with a former lover who is armed with a pistol. When he threatens to kill her, she hisses this deathless line. He obeys and then obligingly shoots himself. (Did I mention that this is kitschy stuff?)
Bara’s real target in the film is a dim diplomat named Schuyler (Edward Jose) and she concludes the tale by sprinkling rose petals over his corpse, as one does. Some sources claim that she delivers the “Fool” line to Schuyler but no such scene exists in the surviving prints of the film, if it ever existed.
I should point out that the line is not unique to the film as it was based on a stage play by Robert Hilliard, which was adapted into a novel in 1909. As you can see, the line is quite intact here:
The Vamp later repeats “Kiss me, My Fool!” to Schuyler in the novel, which is possibly the cause of the confusion.
The line has been quoted, requoted and sometimes mutated into, “Kiss me, you fool!” It’s one of the few direct relics of the movie vamp fad. (Indirect influences are, of course, plentiful.)
Why did they love it back in 1915 and why do we still love it today? Well, many people make the mistake of assuming that ironic enjoyment and the savoring of hokum are modern innovations. Not so. Audiences of 1915 enjoyed repeating purple prose just as much as we do today. A Fool There Was was a blockbuster and helped spark the vamp craze (it was not the first or only vamp picture but it was a big one) but women of the 1910s must have appreciated the humor of applying the dialogue of Theda Bara to their everyday life. Similar to the way we might enjoy quoting some of the clunkier lines from Star Wars today. (“NOOOOOOOO!!!!!”)
The best way to enjoy the line is also the best way to enjoy A Fool There Was: with a healthy sense of humor and heavy eye makeup.
This is my contribution to the Classic Quotes Blogathon hosted by the Flapper Dame. Read all the other posts here.
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Movies Silently 
Thank you so much for writing and giving us an extremely refreshing topic- many people believe silents are not known for their words- or quotes, but you prove them wrong and I’m glad you do so- I had no idea this famous quote came from a silent film- and I learn something new every time you write up about the silents- almost everything I know comes from you!!!
Aww, thanks so much and thanks for hosting! This was fun 🙂
Nice post! When I was a kid, I read an Archie Comic (I think) where the girl probably Big Ethel, said, “Kiss me, you fool!” and the guy (probably Jughead) replied, “I’d HAVE to be a fool to kiss you!”
Yes, I think most people recognize the “Kiss me, you fool” variation as the “my fool” line makes sense only in the context of the film.
And don’t forget the quote on the ’60s TV show…..The Beverly Hillbillies. In an attempt to make a film to save the movie studio the tube family had bought……They channel old actors & make a silent film. They quote the line as a very un-lovely vamp (in the character if bank President’s secretary, Jane Hathaway) says it to the character if Jethro Bodine….Who is dressed up as a Valentino impersonation.
Yes, the vamp was definitely remembered years after her demise 🙂
Wow. This is hilarious. I had no idea it was from a silent film, but you make such excellent points about why it’s endured, and ways in which that time is more similar to ours than we think.
Yes, everyone likes to quote movies ironically, it’s a national (international?) pastime 🙂
Apparently I have been saying this quote incorrectly. I have always said and heard “Kiss Me, You Fool”. Now I know better. 🙂 I would be honored if you would submit to this week’s The Classic Movie Marathon link party http://classicmovietreasures.com/the-classic-movie-marathon-link-party-3/
Thanks!
I’m another one who always thinks it’s “kiss me, you fool”, but I shall amend that…because I use this line all the time, you know. 😉
Also, I just bookmarked this film on YouTube to watch later. I’ve never seen a Theda Bara film and it’s about time, darn it.
Yay, have fun! 😀