Volume II: Filmography

THEIR CHILD

October 21, 1910 (Friday)

Length: 1,000 feet

Character: Drama

Cast: Marie Eline (their child)

SYNOPSIS, The Moving Picture World, October 22, 1910:

"Ellen Stokes is a loving wife and mother, but she has one fault - extravagance. On the day that her only child is playing the host at a birthday party, Ellen's husband informs her that he is practically ruined, and places the fault at her door. Ellen, conscience stricken, declares that she will aid her husband, and tells him that she will induce her rich uncle to aid them. When she talks to him on the subject, she finds that he is not disposed to aid her. Soon after his refusal, a friend of the family drops in, finds Ellen in tears, learns of her trouble, and offers a loan which she finally accepts. The woman's husband is of a jealous nature and when Ellen gives him the money, he asks if it came from the other man. She hastily denies it, and says that her uncle was the one. The husband takes the money, and later finds that his wife has deceived him. In anger he leaves the house, taking their only child with him.

"When Ellen finds that she has been deserted, she listens to the pleadings of the other man and is about to elope with him, when the baby, Tom, unexpectedly appears. He has run away from his father, and trudged through the streets, alone, to rejoin his mother. The woman clasped her child in her arms and decides to live for him in the future. The mother takes her child to humble lodgings, the whereabouts of which are unknown even to her husband. There she tries to make a living for herself and him by sewing, but is unable to do so. She has given the last crust of bread to the little one, and is herself in a starving condition, when the baby boy himself comes to the rescue by starting out on a business career, selling papers in the street. In this way the wolf is kept from the door for a little while longer, and the little fellow, while applying his trade on the street corner, is met and recognized by his father. With his son as his guide, the repentant husband, who now realizes his unjust action, goes to his wife, and with the baby as a mediator, the two become reconciled."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, November 5, 1910:

"The dramatic qualities of this film are high, but the subject is somewhat depressing since it is based upon a misunderstanding between husband and wife which leads to their separation, and much misery follows. The child reunites them. Maybe the picture will teach the lesson that it is better to listen to explanations at first and save all those intervening years of sorrow and suffering. It ought to, at any rate, because that story is plainly wrought out and is apparent as it is possible to make it."

REVIEW, The New York Dramatic Mirror, October 26, 1910:

"The work of the little girl who plays the leading role in this film is a constant wonder to spectators. She displays genuine ability for this form of dramatic art; spontaneous, expressive, sprightly, versatile, she never loses that childish charm which appeals to everyone. The rest of the cast is equally good. The mother deserves special mention because she looked as well as acted the part of the extravagant woman. The men, although they had less to do, did it well. The weakest acting was in the role of the mother's friend, when he surrendered the woman to her child. A man of his calibre wouldn't have backed off so quickly. The children's party was delightful, and the little boy's business operations were amusing. The reunion of the chastened mother with her jealous husband was too conventional to hit very deep. In fact, the acting is far better than the narrative. Something less laboredly sentimental would be much stronger."

REVIEW, The Nickelodeon, November 1, 1910:

"The very conventional thought of this drama is freshened by many careful touches of detail. The children's party pleases, and is well utilized from a standpoint of dramatic expediency; the meeting between the father and his newsboy child also has a touch of originality. The final reconciliation is made much more effective than usual because a child has played an important part all through the piece, and is not dragged in at the last moment to play deus ex machina. The child is a fine little actor, easily making himself the star of the piece."

# # #