Lost1912Thanhouser CompanyOne reelRomance

Old Dr. Judd

Name: Old Dr. Judd
Genre: Romance
Released: 1912-08-09

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

“Jerry Judd was not a noted specialist, he was just a country doctor, and he was called upon to treat all kinds of cases and diseases. To see the shabby little physician driving wearily about on his rounds, one would never suspect that romance had once entered his life. It was a pitiful little romance at that, for when he called to propose to the girl he was just in time to receive the news of her engagement to another. He bore his disappointment manfully, was a loyal friend to her while she lived, and after she died, her little daughter regarded the queer little country doctor as the one man upon whom she could rely for aid and sympathy. Hence it was a great shock to Dr. Judd when the girl’s father called to tell him that she was critically ill. He hurried to the house, and was shocked to see how badly she looked. Then he felt her pulse, prepared some medicine, and hoped, only hoped, that it would cure her.

“Just at this minute, although he had not been summoned, Dr. Dan Cupid entered. He informed his colleague that his patient’s illness was due to fact that the man she loved had been driven from her by her stern father. ‘In this case,’ Dr. Cupid summed up, ‘I would prescribe a marriage license.’ Dr. Judd agreed, but was afraid to broach the subject to the girl’s father. He bridged the difficulty in a professional way by announcing that he insisted upon a ‘consultation.’ He rushed away, but speedily returned with two strange bewhiskered individuals, whom he introduced as his colleagues. The consultation was held, father being banished from the room for a few moments. Later he was called in and with joy and astonishment heard that his daughter was ‘cured.’ In his happiness in her recovery he did not long object to the fact that the eminent specialist had prescribed and administered—a wedding ring.”

Summary from The Moving Picture World · 3 August 1912

What the papers said

3 reviews · 1 advertisement

Read in full · 1 min

“Unique in character, lovable, yet uncouth, the author has presented a type that is likable from almost the beginning, and who grows in the regard of the viewer as the play progresses. When a young man, he decides to propose to the one girl in all the world, but on arriving at her house finds she has been won by another. He attends her at the birth of her child, which results in her death, and as the baby grows into girlhood he acts as her constant adviser and friend. The girl’s father develops into very much of a grouch and refuses to permit a young man to woo her, and as a result the girl falls ill. Dr. Judd is again called upon, and after an examination Dr. Cupid appears and gives sage advice. Dr. Judd consults with the housekeeper and goes off after the lover and another man. He procures disguises for each and returns to the house with them. They pose as specialists and are introduced as such to the father. In the bedroom they remove their disguises, the second man proving to be the local pastor, who at once marries the lover and the girl. She recovers from her illness at once, and as the ceremony is completed Dr. Cupid gives his blessing to the pair. The father is sent for, is informed of the hoax, his anger is subdued, and Dr. Judd pours oil on the troubled waters in such quantities as to completely mollify the enraged parent. Wholesome in theme, rather unique in plot, consistent in action and creditably played, this is a Thanhouser offering well worth securing.”

The Morning Telegraph · 4 August 1912

“Riley Chamberlin scores a success in the title role. The father of the girl who was married through the scheming of the old doctor looked rather youthful for his part.”

The Moving Picture World · 10 August 1912

More reviews

7 August 1912The New York Dramatic Mirror1 min

“The film contains a simple and homey tale of the kindly deed of a physician of the old school, who, disappointed in love himself, continues to do his best so others may be happy. There is nothing startling about it in any way except that the charm of the story has not been marred by the actors. Dr. Judd decides to propose to a girl, but finds that a successful rival has won her before him. When she dies Dr. Judd is at her bedside; later he proves the truest friend of the daughter. The latter is in love with a young man, but her father objects to the match, the girl becomes ill, and Dr. Judd is sent for. He learns that love is at the bottom of the girl’s illness, and hatches out a little scheme to cure her. He tells the father that he must call eminent specialists on the case, but he really brings, disguised, the young man and the minister. In the girl’s room the ceremony is performed, and when Dr. Judd tells the father that his daughter is cured, he is too happy to do anything else but forgive them. The story is effective all the way through.”

3 August 1912The Moving Picture World1 min

“He was a wise enough doctor and of great renown in his certain neighborhood, but here was a case he could never have treated. For there was only one surgeon in all the wide world who could as much as diagnose it—and he was head house surgeon of the Hospital of Hearts, Daniel Cupid. His treatment saved the patient! A delicious story, with much trick work.”