Lost1911Thanhouser Company1,000 feetDrama

When a Man Fears

Name: When a Man Fears
Genre: Drama
Released: 1911-07-11

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

“A young businessman, weakened by close attention to his work, finds his strength failing and applies for advice to a physician, who is also a close personal friend. The doctor decides that radical treatment is necessary to save him from contracting tuberculosis, and advises his patient to move to the country, sleep out of doors, and lead the simple life, promising him that if he faithfully obeys instructions that he will soon be well. The patient does as directed. He pitches his tent in a rural district, and thoroughly enjoys himself, while feeling from day to day that he is growing stronger. Incidentally he falls in love. But he does not dare propose to the girl until he knows that he is thoroughly restored to health. He thinks that the rest has cured him, but he sends for the doctor and friend, so that there may be no doubt in the matter.

“In the meantime the doctor has met in the city a girl with whom he has fallen in love. When he visits his patient he discovers that they both love the same woman. Also, that the patient is the favored suitor. The physician struggles against temptation, but finally yields. He finds that the patient is completely restored to health, but tells him that his case is hopeless. This, he believes, will remove a dangerous rival from his path. But the girl is loyal to the man she loves. Hearing of his sorrow, she goes to comfort him, and arrives just in time to save him from suicide. The doctor arrives on the scene. Horrified at realizing how near he came to being a murderer, he confesses, and goes away, brokenhearted, leaving two loyal, happy sweethearts behind him.”

Summary from The Moving Picture World · 8 July 1911

What the papers said

4 reviews · 1 advertisement

Read in full · 1 min

“A splendidly enacted drama with a thrilling love story herein pictured. The plot works out as naturally as a plant grows and blooms, with pleasant surprises from time to time, and with no inconsistencies. Jack has the symptoms of consumption and his physician, in order to gain the hand of a girl with whom both he and Jack are in love, tells him that he can never be cured. Jack is about to commit suicide when the girl stops him and the doctor, seeing their intense love, bears the truth that Jack is a sound man. The girl is a country lass, and in the play she shows all the sweetness, strength and purity of the ideal type often written of and often seen. Together with the other splendidly interpreted roles, she makes the play a charming one and very natural.”

The Billboard · 16 July 1911

Read in full · 1 min

“This plausible and interesting photodrama is well acted, save for an occasional bit of camera posing, and holds the interest better than the average run of stories. The doctor’s office is well put on, the camp is creditably shown, the railroad scenes are genuine and add to the sequential value of this tale. A young man is threatened with consumption and is sent to a mountain camp. Here he meets a girl and becomes infatuated with her. Later she visits the city and happens to meet the invalid’s physician, who also falls before her charms. The doctor visits the camp and finds his friend about well, but learning that he is in love with the girl and that she reciprocates his affection, he tells him that he has no chance of recovery. The blow is almost too much for him to stand and he attempts suicide, but is prevented by the girl, when the doctor confesses his lie and leaves them in their sudden joy.”

The Morning Telegraph · 16 July 1911

More reviews2 · 22 July 1911 – 19 July 1911

22 July 1911The Moving Picture World1 min

“This is a very interesting love story with an unusual climax. The man, threatened with consumption, is sent by his doctor to live outdoors in a tent. He falls in love with a girl who lives on a farm close by. The doctor also chances to fall in love with the same girl, and because he is jealous tells the man that there is no hope of his recovery. In despair he is about to hurry the end by shooting himself. This is the weakest part of a good film. These suicides are not typical, healthy, or original. We see too many of them in the pictures. The girl enters in time to snatch the revolver away from her lover, and the conscience-stricken doctor confesses that he lied. There are some delightful rural scenes in this picture, including one of a fine flock of hens and chickens, with one self-important turkey. Aside from the one grave fault, it’s a good film. It is well acted.”

19 July 1911The New York Dramatic Mirror1 min

“This is an ably acted story amid suggestive backgrounds and settings. A physician sends his patient to camp in the country, where he falls in love with a country girl. This girl goes to the city, where the doctor falls in love with her. The physician then returns with the girl to examine his patient, but upon his questions, realizing whom he wished to marry, he tells him that he is barred from marriage, being a consumptive. The doctor on being rejected by the girl suffers from his guilt and tells the patient the truth—that he is as sound as he is.”

8 July 1911The Moving Picture World1 min

“One of the most dramatic love stories we’ve ever spun for you, and the whole narrative is sure to surprise and satisfy you. A young businessman shatters his health by too close attention to his work. A physician friend restores him. And then—the friends discover that they are rivals—that each would win the same girl. See the synopsis for the result of this interesting complication.”