Volume II: Filmography

HIS FATHER'S WIFE

Working title: THE RUBE BOSS

December 26, 1913 (Friday)

Length: 1 reel (1,024 feet)

Character: Drama

Scenario: Lloyd F. Lonergan

Cast: David L. Thompson (Maurice Bronx, the son), Helen Badgley (Helen, the little girl), Emma L. Butler, Justus D. Barnes, Harry Benham

Note: The attribution of The Rube Boss as the working title for this film is tentative. Refer to the article in the New Rochelle Evening Standard, September 26, 1913, quoted under the earlier entry for The Junior Partner (released November 4, 1913). The fire scene used in this picture was taken in New Rochelle on September 25, 1913.

SYNOPSIS, The Moving Picture World, December 27, 1913:

"The elderly broker had plenty of money, but it never struck him for a moment that a woman would marry him for his wealth alone. He really believed he was quite fascinating, and his demure little stenographer played upon this belief, so that in the course of time he was convinced that she really loved him. Matters were brought to a crisis by the broker's only son, who learned of the 'romance' and told his father that the woman who aspired to be the son's stepmother was only an adventuress. The broker was indignant, and yielding to a sudden impulse, he urged the girl to marry him that very day. She consented, and thus the son's interference only hastened the catastrophe. The woman never forgave him; she did all she could to cause trouble between father and son, and succeeded so well that within a short time the son was practically an outcast in the home where he was born. The woman then cajoled her husband and finally induced him to make a new will, leaving all of his fortune to her. She had the precious document, but, unluckily for her, talked indiscreetly with her brother, not knowing that her husband was within earshot. In a very few moments the broker learned that the son's opinion was justified and that the wife was merely a designing woman, who had married for wealth alone.

"In an effort to right the wrong, the broker made a new will, leaving all to his son. He placed this in a tin box and was on his way home with it in his auto, when he was suddenly stricken, and as he dropped over helpless, the box fell into the street unnoticed. A little girl picked it up, and being unable to open it, decided it would make a lovely couch for her doll, and there the document, which was sought by the son, remained for several days. The broker was taken home unconscious, and died without being able to explain that the son was his only heir. The widow promptly told the son that there was nothing for him and ordered him from the home of his childhood. The right triumphed in the end, however, for the will was found in a most peculiar way, but only after the little girl's house had been destroyed by fire and the son had proven by his bravery that he was the kind that are justly classed as heroes."

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, December 20, 1913:

"The broker was rich, and elderly - when he fell prey to a designing woman. She was a stenographer in his office, very demure and clever - and it never occurred to Bronx that she wanted him for his wealth alone. When his son - who read the girl on first meeting - hinted as much, he resented the accusation, and to get even with the boy for interfering, asked Molly to marry him that very day. His wife never forgave the boy. She made all sorts of trouble between father and son - until Maurice was practically an outcast - and finally disinherited. Bronx's new will left everything to Molly. However, she boasted of her cleverness to her brother - and her husband overheard just enough to be convinced that Maurice was right after all. He made a new will, leaving all to his son - and was on the way home in his automobile, with the document in a tin box, when he was suddenly stricken, and the box fell from the car. Bronx was taken home - and never regained consciousness. Meanwhile, a little girl found the box, and put it among her playthings. Molly Bronx ordered Maurice to leave the house forever, as there was nothing for him. That same hour, a fire broke out in the neighborhood. It was in the home of the little girl. Maurice Bronx was the hero of the fire - he saved little Helen - and, strangely enough, found the lost will."

REVIEW, The Morning Telegraph, December 28, 1913:

"It is to be feared that real life heroes do not always have luck break so well for them as Maurice does in this story, but adds much interest to have it do so. An elderly widower marries his stenographer, who is after his money. His son sees this and warns his father. The young wife obtains her revenge by getting the boy disinherited and a will made in her favor. Later the rich man overhears a few remarks made by his wife to her brother which inform him that his son was right. He at once makes a new will leaving his cash to the boy. On the way home he is killed in a motor wreck [sic; this seems inconsistent with the synopsis - Ed.]. A little girl finds the tin box containing the new will and uses it for a plaything. Later a fire breaks out in her house and the young man who has been ordered from his home by his stepmother rescues her and finds the will."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, January 3, 1914:

"This proves an entertaining number. The broker falls prey to a designing woman, only to learn the truth after he has married her. His final will, leaving all his property to his son, falls into the hands of the Thanhouser Kidlet, who does her part very cleverly. A pleasing offering, in which the action is nicely proportioned throughout."

REVIEW, The New York Dramatic Mirror, January 14, 1914:

"Here is an exceptionally good one-reel production. Its characters have been well cast, and they have been played with abandon; the situations are sufficiently tense, and the picture runs without the jar of incompetent direction. It is the story of an adventuress in the guise of a stenographer, marrying her employer. She makes trouble between father and son, gloats over the fact that her husband's will makes her the sole heir to his fortune, but lives to rue her perfidy when a second will deprives her of everything in favor of the son. The detail is interesting, and the work of the Thanhouser Kidlet is an added charm."

# # #