Volume II: Filmography

RUINING RANDALL'S REPUTATION

(Falstaff)

April 3, 1916 (Monday)

Length: 1 reel

Character: Comedy

Director: William A. Howell

Assistant director: William Sullivan

Scenario: Lloyd F. Lonergan

Cameraman: George K. Hollister

Cast: Riley Chamberlin (Rivington Randall), Gladys Dore (his niece), Walter Hiers (her suitor), Jock Gironda, Sol Alkin

Location: Jacksonville, Florida

Notes: 1. Several schedules printed in The Moving Picture World (April 1, 8, and 15, 1916) had a title word spelled as "Randal's." Similarly, some Reel Life schedules (in the March 25, 1916 issue, for example) used the incorrect "Randal" spelling. The Florida Metropolis, February 15, 1916, called it Ruining Randolph's Reputation. 2. This film was produced during the week of February 14, 1916.

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, April 1, 1916:

"Rivington Randall was very proud of his spotless reputation. Therefore, when his niece and ward decided to marry, Randall refused, declaring that the young man was not the kind of nephew-in-law he wanted. However, the suitor had a friend who was active in politics. In fact, he was managing the campaign of a congressional nominee, who had almost a certainty of election. When the suitor told him his troubles, the campaign manager laughed and said he knew how to ruin a business reputation, as that was his life work. Nobody wanted the opposition nomination, which probably explains why Randall got it. He took it as a compliment not knowing it was loaded. Randall was pictured as the most heartless of landlords, one who evicted a poor family in the depth of winter and was so pitiless that he even snatched the shoes from the feet of little children to apply on his rent. Randall was a bachelor of unblemished habits, and he was naturally amazed when he met his 'wife and child,' especially as he had never seen or heard of them in his life. Many of his would-be constituents believed that he robbed the poor-box in church, because a statement to that effect was going the rounds. In the end Randall hastily resigned and departed stealthily for South America, leaving a note in which he sadly said, 'I have lost all my reputation and most of my friends, and I am afraid I'll lose my liberty before election day if I stay here.' Did the young man marry the niece? Most certainly, and Rivington Randall was grateful to him, for as he said to the young man, 'It's kind of you to want to belong to our family after all this disgrace.'"

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, April 15, 1916:

"Riley Chamberlin appears in this as a guardian uncle who refused to let his niece wed. His enemies run him for Congress and proceed to put up all manner of political tricks on him. He is glad to step out and withdraws his opposition to the love affair. This has a number of quite amusing situations in it."

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