Adrift in a Great City

Last updated

Adrift in a Great City
Adrift in a Great City.jpg
Florence La Badie in Adrift in a Great City
Produced by Thanhouser Company
Release date
  • January 13, 1914 (1914-01-13)
CountryUnited States
LanguagesSilent film
English intertitles

Adrift in a Great City is a 1914 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Film Corporation that stars Florence LaBadie. The film begins with Pat Moran who pays for the passage of his wife and daughter to join him in America, but he is seriously injured on the way to greeting them. Left by themselves, the daughter works in a sweatshop and goes blind, forcing her and her mother to become beggars. By pure happenstance, the blind girl wanders to the hospital where her father is recovering and tells her story to a doctor. The father recognizes the girl as his daughter and the family is reunited, and the doctor confirms her blindness can be cured. The film was reviewed negatively by critics for its poor scenario, settings and technical execution. The film is presumed lost.

Contents

Plot

Pat Moran, the foreman of a construction gang, worked hard to save up enough money to pay for the passage of his wife and daughter to their new home in America. On the day of their arrival, he heads to the pier to greet them and becomes involved in a serious accident. He is injured and taken unconscious to the hospital as an unidentified patient. His wife and daughter know nothing of what has befallen him and struggle to live in the city. The daughter gets a position in a sweatshop, and her eyesight deteriorates until she is unable to work anymore. Now blind, she resorts to playing the violin for money while her mother becomes a beggar. [1] [2]

As Pat Moran recovers in the hospital, he sends messengers out to contact his wife and child, but they all fail to find them. One day, the blind girl has lost her way and stumbles into the hospital grounds. She encounters the doctor and tells him of her story and plight. Weakly reclining in a chair nearby, Pat Moran overhears her and recognizes the girl as his daughter. The grief of the separated family abates with their reunion and doctor's assurance that the blind girl that her sight can be restored. [1] [2]

Cast

Production

The scenario was written by Lloyd F. Lonergan, but the director of the film is uncredited. [1] Little is known of the production, but a review in The New York Dramatic Mirror made the assumption that the scenes were shot in the morning. [1] The film starred Florence La Badie, who was the most prominent player of the Thanhouser Company and frequently in the leading roles of films including The Million Dollar Mystery which would captivate the United States. [3] The role of the father was played, Sidney Bracy, was a stage actor of considerable experience who claimed to have been affiliated with the Thanhouser players since 1910. Though Q. David Bowers says that it is probably an incorrect assertion, it is possible that Bracy may not have been a full-time member of the company. Bracy's first credited work appears in 1913, but it would not be until The Million Dollar Mystery that Bracy would garner much attention in the role of Jones, the Butler. [4] The role of the doctor was played by Arthur Bauer who was a veteran of the stage and film, through the Great Northern Film Company, before signing onto the Thanhouser Company. The announcement of Bauer's role at Thanhouser came after the release of sixteen films, including Adrift in the Great City, on March 21, 1914. [5] Lila Chester, played the role of a nurse in the production. Chester was claimed by a Thanhouser publicist to have appeared in over 400 films by February 14, 1914. Bowers reasons that if these productions were with Thanhouser, than most of them had to be minor roles because of the lack of attention and credits she was given. [6] The one reel drama film, approximately 1008 feet long, was filmed in New York City and New Rochelle, New York. [1]

Release and reception

The film was released in the United States on January 13, 1914, and later in Britain on April 13, 1914. [1] [7] The film had a wide release in the United States with showings in Kansas, [8] Pennsylvania, [9] Maryland, [10] Indiana, [11] North Carolina, [12] Texas, [13] Kentucky, [14] Wisconsin, [15] and Missouri. [16]

The film was met with negative reviews by critics and mixed enthusiasm by theater proprietors. The Morning Telegraph found it unbelievable and only for the sake of the plot that family would be reunited by happenstance. The Moving Picture World was negative finding that it was not a strong offering because of the plot and the camerawork having resulted in a cloudy image quality in parts of the production. The New York Dramatic Mirror found the concept of the plot to be interesting, but the execution to have been poorly executed. The review found that the production was crude, cheap and unconvincing because the set was bare and lacked the presence of onlookers on the city scenes. [1] Advertisers like the Majestic theater of Wellington, Kansas, would prompt it as a "well told story". [17] The Empire in Frederick, Maryland, would be equally promotional and appeal to the audience as having pretty girls in the cast. [10] The Edisonia in Durham, North Carolina, advertised the film as a strong Thanhouser drama that was "thrilling, pathetic, interesting". [12] The film is presumed lost.

Notes

The plot was reconstructed from the Reel Life synopsis that is included Q. David Bowers'Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History Volume 2: Filmography and the synopsis published in Moving Picture World. [1] [2] Two aspects of the plot have been reported in reviews that are not reflected in the article's plot section because neither is in the published synopsizes. The review by The Morning Telegraph states that has both the blind girl and mother wander onto the hospital grounds. The review in The New York Dramatic Mirror states that the father was unconscious in a restaurant and not a hospital. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florence La Badie</span> American actress

Florence La Badie was an American-Canadian actress in the early days of the silent film era. She was a major star between 1911 and 1917. Her career was at its height when she died at age 29 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thanhouser Company</span> Early motion picture studio

The Thanhouser Company was one of the first motion picture studios, founded in 1909 by Edwin Thanhouser, his wife Gertrude and his brother-in-law Lloyd Lonergan. It operated in New York City until 1920, producing over a thousand films.

<i>A Fresh Start</i> 1910 film

A Fresh Start is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film is the story of Jim, a chauffeur, who is fired from his job for being drunk. Jim becomes a tramp, but decides to reform after a little girl orders her butler to give him food. He encounters her again at the zoo and notices that two men are following the girl and her parents. Jim uncovers a plot to kidnap her and takes the place of their chauffeur. Jim then drives the kidnappers to the police station and secures a new position as the family's chauffeur. According to a trade review, the actual kidnapping scene and where Jim overpowers the villain's chauffeur is not actually depicted. The reviewer also stated the strength of the production is not in the plot, but in the staging and photography. The film was released on September 2, 1910, and it likely had a wide national release. The film is presumed lost.

<i>Across the Way</i> 1915 American film

Across the Way is a 1915 American silent short film produced by the Thanhouser Company under the Princess brand. The comedy-drama involves a man named Sparks playing a trick on his friend to make him question his sanity. The trick involves the friend's love interest being attacked by an assailant which works, but then a burglar attacks her a few days later. The friend saves his love interest from the burglar and later marries him instead of Sparks. The Princess comedy-dramas were not well-received and it was not long after the film's release that Edwin Thanhouser took a personal interest in the productions at the New Rochelle studio. Soon thereafter, the Princess brand was discontinued and replaced by the Falstaff brand. The film is presumed to be lost.

<i>Adrift</i> (1911 film) 1911 American film

Adrift is a 1911 American silent short drama film produced by the Thanhouser Company and directed by Lucius J. Henderson. The film depicts a story of a young artist whose lack of success leads him to attempt suicide. Before he can carry out the act, his daughter follows and stops him. He confesses to his wife and she thanks her child, providing the inspiration for the artist to complete a great painting. It brings him success and he grows distant from his wife and becomes interested in another woman whom he was commissioned by. Once again saved by his daughter's actions, whose crying moves the woman to break off the relationship with the artist. The artist destroys the painting and learns a moral lesson.

<i>Jane Eyre</i> (1910 film) 1910 American film

Jane Eyre is a 1910 American silent short classic drama produced by the Thanhouser Film Corporation. Adapted from Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel, Jane Eyre, the film mirrors the events and plot of the original book. The writer of the scenario is unknown, but Lloyd Lonergan probably adapted the work. The film's director is often and erroneously claimed to be Theodore Marston, but Barry O'Neil or Lloyd B. Carleton are possible candidates. The cast of the film was credited, an act rare and unusual in the era.

<i>The Best Man Wins</i> (1910 film) 1910 American film

The Best Man Wins is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film features Thanhouser's leading players Anna Rosemond, Martin Faust, Frank H. Crane and Marie Eline in a drama about morality. Two suitors are vying for the hand of Julia Seaton and propose to her on the same day, but she asks for a month to decide between them. In the time, the caliber of both men are tested when asked by a young girl, named May, to help her dying mother. The doctor refuses to help, and the lawyer offers his assistance, but her mother soon dies. The orphan is taken in by the Seaton family and personally attests to the character of both men when Julia Seaton has to choose between her suitors.

<i>The Writing on the Wall</i> (film) 1910 film

The Writing on the Wall is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. Directed by Barry O'Neil from a script by Lloyd Lonergan, this presumed lost film focuses on a young girl named Grace who becomes attracted to a wealthy man named Jack. Two men, named Turner and Hank plot to rob Jack after he withdraws a large sum of money from a bank, but Grace warns him of a plot to drug him. Jack escapes and marries Grace. The film has no known trade publication reviews, but reviews may exist for this film. Theaters were advertising this film as late as 1913.

<i>The Governors Daughter</i> 1910 American film

The Governor's Daughter is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The story details a convict who is being sent to prison when the train is wrecked and the sheriff escorting him is killed. The convict frees himself, but halts his escape to save the life of a little girl. As he returns the girl to her nurse, a policeman identifies and recaptures him. Later the little girl accompanies her father, the governor, on a tour of the prison and the father pardons the hero-convict. The film included scenes of a real train wreck and the scenario was written around the filming of the disaster. The film received praise for the before and after scenes which were described as shocking to The Moving Picture World's reviewer. The film was released on June 24, 1910, and was shown as far away as Australia. The film is presumed lost.

<i>Tempest and Sunshine</i> 1910 American film

Tempest and Sunshine is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film is an adaptation of Mary Jane Holmes's 1854 novel Tempest and Sunshine, and features the deceptive Tempest and the benevolent Sunshine being wooed by a Dr. Lacey. Tempest and Bill Jeffreys conspire against Sunshine. By intercepting the lovers' letters the doctor instead decides to marry Tempest, but Jeffreys interrupts the ceremony to reveal the conspiracy. The doctor and Sunshine are reunited. The novel was a popular subject of plays and vaudeville, but the Thanhouser adaptation appears to be the first film version for it predates the adaptations in The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Released on June 28, 1910, the production received a favorable review in The Moving Picture News. The film is presumed lost.

<i>The Lucky Shot</i> 1910 film

The Lucky Shot is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The plot follows Jack Hunt, the son of a wealthy woman, who weds a chorus singer Nell Horsley. Jack's mother forgives the son's error, but rejects his wife. Then Jack is killed while on strike duty in the local militia and the Nell and her child struggle in poverty. Nell begs her mother-in-law for aid, but the woman is enraged and drops dead. Her property goes to the young boy who saves the financial future of the family by finding a hidden fortune with a lucky shot while playing 'Indian'. Released on July 12, 1910, the film received positive attention and saw an international release. The film is presumed lost.

<i>The Converted Deacon</i> 1910 film

The Converted Deacon is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film follows the daughter who disobeys her father by associated with the theater and becomes a star on the stage. She keeps it a secret, but he father arrives in town and takes her home because her mother is ill. John DeLacy follows her home and disguises himself to secure a position on the farm. A newspaper reveals the daughter's fame and only after a song and dance does the father's anger abate and allows the two lovers to marry. Little is known about the production of the film, but the Thanhouser films were distinguished as being the best of the Independent companies in a The New York Dramatic Mirror editorial. The film was released on July 15, 1910, and met with mixed reception. The film is presumed lost

<i>The Playwrights Love</i> 1910 American film

The Playwright's Love is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film focuses on a poor playwright named John Russell who is approached by a poor dying woman. Upon her death, John takes guardianship of her daughter named Grace. A decade passes and Grace becomes a young woman as John struggles with his love for her. Then, a suitor approaches Grace and is denied because she loves John. When John learns of this, he proposes to her and is accepted. Released on July 19, 1910, the film received positive reception by film critics. One reviewer noted the similarity to other productions and another reviewer said the film recalled The Prince Chap. The film is presumed lost.

<i>Uncle Toms Cabin</i> (1910 film) 1910 film by Barry ONeil

Uncle Tom's Cabin is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film was adapted by from the 1852 novel Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The plot of the Thanhouser production streamlined the actual story to portray the film over the course of a single reel. The film was released on July 26, 1910, on the same day that Vitagraph released the first reel of their own three reel version of Uncle Tom's Cabin. This prompted the Thanhouser Company to advertise against the Vitagraph film by referring to the other as being overly drawn out. The film garnered mixed, but mostly positive reception in trade publications. The film is presumed lost.

<i>The Restoration</i> (1910 film) 1910 American film

The Restoration is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film focuses on Hugh Logan, a single father who leaves his little girl, May, at home when he goes on a business trip. On the way to the city he is attacked by robbers and left in the road. He is found and taken in, but he suffers from amnesia. He falls in love with Maud Neals and proposes to her. Due to the prolonged absence of her father, May is taken to an orphan asylum, but she escapes. May goes to the city and ends up stopping to sleep on the doorstep of the Neals' home. Maud finds her and takes her in, where Logan recognizes his daughter and his memory comes back. Little is known of the production credits, but the film does feature Marie Eline as the little girl. It was released on August 5, 1910 and was met with mixed reviews. The film is presumed lost.

<i>Lena Rivers</i> (1910 film) 1910 film

Lena Rivers is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film follows a young woman who leaves home to search for employment and becoming married to a wealthy man, but the marriage is kept secret. The husband is arrested by mistake and by the time he is freed, his wife and child depart and he believes them dead. The young woman entrusts her baby, Lena, to her mother before her death. At age 16, Lena goes to the city is visited by her father, but the relationship is only known when he sees a picture of her mother in her locket. The film was an adaptation of Mary Jane Holmes' 1856 novel Lena Rivers and was released on August 12, 1910. It had a wide national release and received positive reviews from critics.

<i>The Girl Reporter</i> 1910 American film

The Girl Reporter is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film follows two sweethearts, May and Will, who are reporters for the Daily Wave newspaper. Will leaves the newspaper to work as a secretary to Blake, the commissioner of public works. Blake takes a bribe and blames Will and fires him. May sets out to clear his name and becomes Blake's new secretary. May investigates and clears Will's name while proving Blake's corruption. The film was released on August 16, 1910 and saw a wide national release. The film received mixed responses from critics who liked the acting, but found issues with the staging and the plausibility of the plot. The film is presumed lost.

<i>A Dainty Politician</i> 1910 American film

A Dainty Politician is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film focuses on corruption political activity during a political convention in which a corrupt politician is running for re-election to the United States Congress. The votes are tallied and the challenger ties with the corrupt Congressman Casey, but a third candidate holds the balance of power. Casey bribes the third candidate to retire in his favor, but the plot is uncovered and the two are ejected from the convention by a reporter who falls in love with challenger's daughter. The film was released on August 23, 1910, and saw a wide national release. Little is known of the actual production, but it received mixed reaction for the plausibility of its plot. The film is presumed lost.

<i>The Doctors Carriage</i> 1910 American film

The Doctor's Carriage is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The plot is a melodrama that features Marie Eline in the starring role. The film begins with Max, an old musician who has two daughters, one of whom is blind. Max becomes ill and dies and without a mother to raise them, the younger daughter cares for her older sister, but they are homeless and poor. The little girl begs a doctor to restore her sister's vision and he proposes to her. The film was released on September 9, 1910, and was met with praise from reviewers. The film saw a wide national release and was also shown in Canada, Britain and Australia. The film is presumed lost.

The City of Her Dreams is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film focuses on Ella Brown, who is sent to live with her aunt who living in a boarding house when her father heads to Alaska to prospect for gold. Ella's life at her aunt's home is miserable and she dreams of going to New York City. She dreams that she is in the city and has all money to buy anything which she fancies. Then she receives word that her father has returned from Alaska with a fortune and wants to give her everything she wants. The cast and staff credits are unknown, but the film includes scenes of New York City. The film was released on November 18, 1910 and saw a wide national release. The film is presumed lost.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Q. David Bowers. (1995). "Volume 2: Filmography – Adrift in a Great City". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1914) (Jan-Mar 1914)". Chalmers Publishing Company. 1914. p. 340. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  3. Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 3: Biographies – La Badie, Florence". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  4. Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 3: Biographies – Bracey, Sidney". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  5. Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 3: Biographies – Bauer, Arthur". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  6. Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 3: Biographies – Chester, Lila". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  7. Q. David Bowers (1995). "Thanhouser Films – British Releases Thanhouser-Princess-Falstaff". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  8. "Today at the Theaters". The Leavenworth Times (Leavenworth, Kansas). January 15, 1914. p. 7. Retrieved January 15, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  9. "Rex Theatre". The Morning Herald (Uniontown, Pennsylvania). January 20, 1914. p. 4. Retrieved January 15, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  10. 1 2 "The Empire". The News (Frederick, Maryland). January 31, 1914. p. 3. Retrieved January 15, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  11. "Gem Theatre". The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana). February 27, 1914. p. 13. Retrieved January 15, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  12. 1 2 "Edisonia". Durham Morning Herald (Durham, North Carolina). March 3, 1914. p. 2. Retrieved January 15, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  13. "Pope Theater". The Courier-Gazette (McKinney, Texas). March 17, 1914. p. 8. Retrieved January 15, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  14. "The Columbia Today". The Bourbon News (Paris, Kentucky). March 20, 1914. p. 4. Retrieved January 15, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  15. "(Rex Theater advertisement)". Eau Claire Leader (Eau Claire, Wisconsin). March 22, 1914. p. 15. Retrieved January 15, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  16. "The Gem Tonight". The Macon Daily Herald (Macon, Missouri). August 20, 1914. p. 4. Retrieved January 15, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  17. "Majestic". The Wellington Daily News (Wellington, Kansas). January 24, 1914. p. 1. Retrieved January 15, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg