Volume II: Filmography

WHEN DARKNESS CAME

July 22, 1913 (Tuesday)

Length: 1 reel (1,000 feet)

Character: Drama

Cast: David H. Thompson (Dr. Greene), Mignon Anderson (May, the blind girl), James Cruze (the chief clerk), Justus D. Barnes (the senior partner)

Note: An expanded story by Allen Stanhope, based upon the film, appeared in The Motion Picture Story Magazine, August 1913.

ADVERTISEMENT, The New York Dramatic Mirror, July 16, 1913:

"She was the belle of the office and all the clerks paid her court. Even the son of the boss took her out in his automobile; indeed, she received so much attention that she did not know the chief clerk loved her. He never made a display of his affections, but in the showdown, when darkness came, he proved that his quiet love was the truest love of all."

SYNOPSIS, The Moving Picture World, July 26, 1913:

"The pretty little stenographer was the belle of the office, was happy because all of the clerks paid her attention. Even her employer's son deigned to take notice of her, and took her on several delightful short trips in his automobile. There was one man, however, upon whom she never wasted her fascinations. He was the chief clerk, a shy, reserved, hardworking individual, who seldom paid her any attention, yet it would have surprised the girl had she known that he worshipped her in secret and longed for a chance to prove his love. The chance came and he proved his worth. The girl's eyes had been bothering her, but she gaily disregarded the orders of her physician. One day while at work, her sight suddenly failed, and she was removed to a shabby room in a boarding house, practically penniless, with the prospect of being long incapacitated. The chief clerk was the first of her callers, and he heartened her up immensely. He told her that her employer, whom she'd always regarded as a mean, stingy old man, had announced his intention of paying her doctor and nurse, and that her salary would be continued indefinitely. He brought her bouquets and fruit, which he said had been sent by certain of the other clerks, and managed to convince her that although absent, she was still the queen of the office.

"It was some months before the girl was restored to health, and with joyful anticipation she returned to the office to thank the ones who had been so good to her. Speedily was she disillusioned. Her employer gruffly told her that her salary had ceased on the day she was stricken, and even refused to re-engage her now that she was well. The other clerks greeted her coldly, and she saw that their fickle attentions had been diverted to another stenographer as empty headed and pleasure seeking as she herself had been. Her doctor told her the real story after she had tearfully begged for it. The only man who had been kind to her was the chief clerk, and it was his money that had saved her from becoming an object of charity. She realized how great his love was, and it humbled her. He had meant to have kept it a secret, but she would not have it that way, and when he at last told her how he loved her, she gratefully accepted the heart of gold which kind fortune had placed in her path."

REVIEW, The Morning Telegraph, July 27, 1913:

"The old story of 'Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone' is exemplified in this film in the form of a love story. The illustration lacks possibly a little force in the manner in which it has been put over, but has a fair amount of interest in its makeup."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, August 2, 1913:

"A pretty story without any particular strength, but with a good love interest in it. The girl loses her eyesight temporarily and is forgotten by all of the firm and its employees except one clerk, who secretly loves her. He pays the cost of her treatment and in the end marries her. The story is attractively developed, but comes to a rather abrupt close."

REVIEW, The New York Dramatic Mirror, July 30, 1913:

"A stenographer, troubled with her eyes, is bidden by her physician to take a long rest. She disregards him as an alarmist. Presently, while at work at the office, she is stricken. She is taken to a sanitarium, where she is told her expenses are being paid for by her employers. As a matter of fact, the bill is being paid by a clerk who loves her. Three months later she is entirely recovered, so decides to return to the office where she fancies they will be so glad to see her. What is her disappointment to discover they have filled her place and have no use for her. They repudiate paying her bills. Her physician tells her the truth. She writes a letter of gratitude to the man who has befriended her, but meets him as she is going to the mailbox to post it. Then and there he declares his love, and she accepts him. This is a clean, pretty play, simple and clearly presented. Acting and photography are in competent hands."

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