I like the sub-head to this early silent film: "A Story Of The Temporal Deeds That Reap Spiritual Reward." It's something to think about.
This is a D.W. Griffith movie, and a powerful little (16 minutes) drama of a country doctor who seems to have an idyllic life with a beautiful wife, daughter and a beautiful country setting. One day is daughter falls critically ill. While the doctor-father is examining her, and tending to her, another frantic mother comes by, seeking the doctor for her sick little girl. At first, the doctor is reluctant to leave his daughter but after the second mom, a very poor woman, almost faints, he goes to see that girl. In the meanwhile, his daughter dies! The story ends on that dramatic scene.
Wow, this isn't what I expected and the story almost leaves the viewer stunned. The movie is a thought-provoker, making audiences ponder the question of whether the doctor did the right thing and did he give his own daughter sufficient treatment, etc.? Apparently, the film brought some discussion. At any rate, it was to show life realistically; that there aren't always happy endings to all stories in life.
Notes: Griffth is famous for "Birth Of A Nation," but he made tons (over 400) of short films prior to that 1915 movie.....In the scene at the poor people's shack, an older sister is seen at the far right of the bedside scene. She was 16-year-old Mary Pickford!
This is a D.W. Griffith movie, and a powerful little (16 minutes) drama of a country doctor who seems to have an idyllic life with a beautiful wife, daughter and a beautiful country setting. One day is daughter falls critically ill. While the doctor-father is examining her, and tending to her, another frantic mother comes by, seeking the doctor for her sick little girl. At first, the doctor is reluctant to leave his daughter but after the second mom, a very poor woman, almost faints, he goes to see that girl. In the meanwhile, his daughter dies! The story ends on that dramatic scene.
Wow, this isn't what I expected and the story almost leaves the viewer stunned. The movie is a thought-provoker, making audiences ponder the question of whether the doctor did the right thing and did he give his own daughter sufficient treatment, etc.? Apparently, the film brought some discussion. At any rate, it was to show life realistically; that there aren't always happy endings to all stories in life.
Notes: Griffth is famous for "Birth Of A Nation," but he made tons (over 400) of short films prior to that 1915 movie.....In the scene at the poor people's shack, an older sister is seen at the far right of the bedside scene. She was 16-year-old Mary Pickford!