Volume II: Filmography

THE CONVERTED DEACON

July 15, 1910 (Friday)

Length: 985 feet

Character: Drama

SYNOPSIS, The Moving Picture World, July 16, 1910:

"May Sanders is the daughter of a farmer, Deacon Sanders, who is nearly as poor as he is religious. May goes to the city to seek employment, and her father warns her to shun theatres and bad company. Her first job is a maid in the home of Mrs. Carr, wife of a theatrical manager. Mrs. Carr discovers that May can sing and dance exceptionally well, and her husband places May on the stage. She makes a hit right from the start. Also she annexes the affections of John DeLacy, a wealthy young man. But she does not dare tell her parents about her new vocation.

"Matters drag along until the Deacon unexpectedly arrives in town. May has still pretended to be the maid of Mrs. Carr, and the father finds her in the house when she calls. He tells her that her mother is ill, and she is needed at home. She goes and is promptly put to work on the farm. John follows his sweetheart to the country, and to be near her, pretends to be poor and secures a job on the farm. The newspaper gives the Deacon a clue to the mystery, and he prepares to disown his daughter. But when she sings and dances, his anger melts, he forgives May and John, who later marry with a paternal blessing."

Note: This synopsis was reprinted verbatim in Thanhouser's advertisement in the same issue of The Moving Picture World.

REVIEW, The Moving Picture News, September 10, 1910:

"As a sketch of country folk, admirable because it is true. The situations are well worked out. The conversion! Could it be? A New England church meeting would be a good place to exhibit and - ask questions."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, July 30, 1910:

"Sometimes even a deacon can be converted to ways that may seem to him wicked. And here is one that overlooks his objection to the theatre when he discovers that his daughter has made a success of it and proves it by performing for his benefit."

REVIEW, The New York Dramatic Mirror, July 23, 1910:

"A straightlaced old deacon forms the complicating element in this rather conventional and rather improbable story. That a girl could become a comic opera star without the knowledge of her parents is a strain for the imagination. That a simple little dance like the one in the picture could effect such a conversion is another tax on belief. The acting is good, especially in the heroine's role. The deacon displays an unnatural tendency in such a stern character when he rapturously kisses the photograph of his daughter."

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