Volume II: Filmography

AN HONEST YOUNG MAN

William Russell (left) and Riley Chamberlin. (F-550)

March 9, 1913 (Sunday)

Length: 1 reel (split with Pasadena Chariot Races at the end)

Character: Drama

Director: Lucius J. Henderson

Cameraman: Arthur A. Cadwell

Cast: William Russell, Riley Chamberlin, Florence LaBadie, William Garwood; members of Thanhouser's California stock company

Location: Southern California

ADVERTISEMENT, The Moving Picture World, March 15, 1913:

He was an honest young man! His father said so - to her father. The young man wanted her, of course. She was willing, but her father wanted the youth to demonstrate his honesty. His father's say-so wasn't enough. So a test was made. In it, the young man weakened, wavered and then - pulled up. He showed himself honest! Why, wasn't totally for his credit, and it is a mysterious why and wherefore that the picture gives.

SYNOPSIS, The Moving Picture World, March 15, 1913:

Two magnates of Wall Street who have many dealings with each other met at a summer resort. One was accompanied by his daughter, the other by his son, and each parent boasts of the good qualities of his offspring. One man told of his boy's business ability, the other of his daughter's beauty and accomplishments. Day by day they increased their boasts until finally the statement was made that the son 'was so honest that he wouldn't rob a blind man.' For the first time a statement was questioned, for the father of the girl, blasé after so many years in the stock exchange, could not conceive that such a man existed. The boy's father was confident of his heir's fidelity and willingly agreed that the matter should be tested.

The father disguised himself as a blind man, and mutely appealing for charity with a tin cup, and in that cup he displayed a $500 bill which was to test the youth's honesty. The other broker gave warning when the son approached and from a place of hiding watched to see how the experiment turned out. A moment later the father's head was bowed in shame, for his son took the bill. The other broker jibed and jeered at the unhappy parent, but consented to delay judgment until the young man returned, the boy's father being convinced that he would purge himself of evil. It turned out as he had expected. Some hours later the youth came rushing back, trembling with emotion, restored the $500 bill and in addition poured into the cup his own money and jewels. 'It was conscience,' said the happy father. 'I can't understand it,' mused the other broker, but convinced against his will, he brought his daughter forward to give her the pleasure of meeting an honest man, one who had learned the ways of virtue on Wall Street. There was another story, but the young man never told it. It involved a series of astonishing misfortunes and when he saw that his hoodoo was working overtime he tried to appease it and did. For, as said before, he was an honest young man from Wall Street.

REVIEW, The Morning Telegraph, March 16, 1913:

A modern story of a young business man who proved his honesty in an unusual manner, being put to the test by his father, who had made a wager that his son would not rob a blind man. The father posed as the blind one, with a large bill in the cup before him. The son took the bill, whereat the friend of the boy's father laughed gleefully, but later the youth returned and restored the money, giving added riches as a recompense. There is a romance woven into the story, which gives the offering an added appeal.

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, March 15, 1913:

Scenes located at a California hotel. A proud father insists that his son is absolutely honest. He puts a $500 bill in a blind man's cup to test him. The son takes it, but later repents and gives it back, throwing in his own money, scarf pin, etc. A well-pictured, enjoyable absurdity.

REVIEW, The New York Dramatic Mirror, March 5, 1913:

Our heroine's father has an antipathy for her sweetheart because he hails from Wall Street. No man from Wall Street is honest in his eyes. The young man's friend lays a wager with the father to prove the boy's honesty. This is done in a rather unique manner. It is a pleasing little comedy. The settings display the delightful scenery of the Pacific Coast with photography that is well up to the standard.

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