Volume II: Filmography

AMBITION

British release title: THE GIRL AND THE CROOK

December 21, 1915 (Tuesday)

Length: 3 reels

Character: Society drama; Than-O-Play

Director: Howard M. Mitchell

Assistant director: Al Reitz

Scenario: Philip Lonergan

Cast: Howard M. Mitchell ("Ambition," William MacAlpin), Gladys Hulette ("Youth," Carolyn Bartlett), Morgan Jones ("Aristocracy," Walter Bartlett, Carolyn's father), Morris Foster ("Friendship," Wallace Holmes), Robert Whittier ("Temptation")

Note: Howard M. Mitchell directed and also played the male lead in this film.

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, December 18, 1915:

"In the three-reel Than-O-Play Ambition, screened by Thanhouser for release on the regular Mutual Program, December 21st, the drama of the unscrupulous candidate for fame is strikingly presented. Howard M. Mitchell creates the leading role of William MacAlpin, with Morris Foster in the part of Wallace Holmes, in effective contrast. Gladys Hulette is Carolyn Bartlett, and Morgan Jones impersonates aristocracy in the person of Walter Bartlett, Carolyn's father. These four players have joined their exceptional talents in one of the strongest dramas seen on the screen in a long time.

"William MacAlpin, we learn from this stirring story, is a young Westerner whose powers in tracking down a notorious bandit and, single-handed, hurling him to his death down a steep cliff, has put him in the sheriff's office. MacAlpin believes in self-advertising. He writes the thrilling story of the bandit incident for a New York newspaper. On the strength of the hit he makes, he later is given an influential position on the paper. Here he develops into an unscrupulous office-seeker who uses his position to push his own interests. He meets Carolyn Bartlett, the daughter of an eminent financier, and by sheer force of personality wins her promise to become his wife.

"Carolyn's father's bank falls into difficulties. Bartlett is convinced that in a short time he can restore it to a firm footing. While he is engaged, however, in preserving the savings of hundreds of poor people, his future son-in-law learns of the state of affairs. MacAlpin deliberately publishes the story, causing Bartlett's ruin, but winning for himself the position he has coveted at the head of his paper. Bartlett is saved from taking his life by Wallace Holmes. Holmes loves Carolyn, but she has rejected him for MacAlpin. Now she learns the real character of each of the young men. She breaks her engagement to MacAlpin and gives her promise to Holmes. 'The Man of Ambition' is going up higher every day. He has lost love, and to all the finer things of life, his nature has become completely calloused. But he is still climbing."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, December 25, 1915:

"A strong three-reel offering written by Philip Lonergan, featuring Morgan Jones, Gladys Hulette, and Morris Foster. This has a flavor of the recent morality plays, the characters being designated as Ambition, Youth, Friendship, etc. The opening Western scenes are vivid and full of interest. The ambitious one then goes East, where his desire to excel leads him to forget love and happiness. The story has a good message and contains much that is true to life. It makes a good offering."

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