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1915Thanhouser CompanyTwo reelsDrama

A Man of Iron

No copy you can watch online. No print is known to survive. What follows is what does: the release, the cast, the story, and what the trade press said at the time.

The story

“Caleb Masters, president of a big manufacturing company, realizing that luxury is slowly ruining his children, refuses the offer of a millionaire, who wishes him to go into partnership, and permits the refusal to force him into bankruptcy. He then takes a position as manager of a large quarry where Ben, his son, works with him. Belle, his daughter, becomes housekeeper for her father and brother. Not for a minute does Masters regret his step, for he sees his children, through plenty of wholesome, hard work, becoming thoroughly industrious and dependable. He is satisfied that he has saved them in the nick of time from moral disgrace. The only other person who realizes the situation is Mrs. Travers, a wealthy widow. She keeps in touch with the family and is loyal to them during their so-called ‘misfortune.’ Later, she is the means of Masters’ reinstatement in the business world. And after Ben and Belle have married worthily, Mrs. Travers and their father also celebrate their wedding.”

Summary from Reel Life · 6 February 1915

What the papers said

2 reviews · 1 article · 1 advertisement

“Masters realizes that his children are being ruined by their life of ease and luxury. He purposely allows his firm to be forced into bankruptcy. In their so-called misfortune all pitch in and help. Mrs. Travers, a wealthy widow, understands the matter and she is the means of Masters’s reinstatement in business. When the children have married they celebrate their wedding.”

The Morning Telegraph · 14 February 1915

“A two-reel production, better than the average in theme and construction. Frank Farrington appears as a financier with a boy and a girl, both of whom are pampered and spoiled by too much high living. Failure comes, and the father welcomes it because it will be a blessing to his children. They meet the change of life willingly, father and …

Read in full · 1 min

“A two-reel production, better than the average in theme and construction. Frank Farrington appears as a financier with a boy and a girl, both of whom are pampered and spoiled by too much high living. Failure comes, and the father welcomes it because it will be a blessing to his children. They meet the change of life willingly, father and son working in the marble quarries. The son risks his life to save a girl. Later, good fortune returns to the father and the children marry worthy mates. There is an inspiring note in this film story and it should have wide appeal.”

The Moving Picture World · 27 February 1915

Article

5 December 1914The New Rochelle Pioneer1 min

“Howell Hansel, famed director of The Million Dollar Mystery, had a company in New York, Thursday [December 3rd], at the Broadway Rose Gardens, for a scene in a two-reeler featuring Frank Farrington, Harris Gordon and Ruth Elder.”

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13 February 1915Reel Life1 min

“A splendid two-reel drama with an unusual theme, dealing with the sacrifice by a rich man of his wealth in order that his children might acquire the virtues of poverty. Frank Farrington is featured, supported by a strong cast.”

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Cast and crew

Director
Howell Hansel
Cast
Carey L. Hastings as Mrs. Travers
Charles S. Gould
Frank Farrington as Caleb Masters, the father
Harris Gordon as Ben, his son
Ruth Elder as Belle, his daughter
S. Charles Gould
Writer
Philip Lonergan

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More about this film

Filmed in
At least one scene was filmed at the Broadway Rose Gardens, New York City, an enterprise that was in bankruptcy proceedings at the time.

From Volume II: Filmography of Q. David Bowers’ Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History, reproduced with permission and unchanged. Read the history of 1915 →

Cite as: Bowers, Q. David. Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History, “A Man of Iron”. thanhouser.org/films/a-man-of-iron/

Where a print is held

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