Volume II: Filmography

HIS TWO PATIENTS

July 25, 1915 (Sunday)

Length: 1 reel (984 feet)

Character: Drama

Cast: Harry Benham (the doctor), Grace DeCarlton, Justus D. Barnes

Notes: 1. This film was originally scheduled to be released on July 4, 1915, and appropriate publicity to that effect was released. Later, the picture was rescheduled to July 25, but many trade notices and schedules were never corrected. 2. Another Thanhouser film, A Message Through the Flames, was originally scheduled to be released on July 25, 1915 but was rescheduled to August 10, 1915. Certain printed schedules were never corrected, and some trade notices state that A Message Through the Flames was released on July 25th.

ADVERTISEMENT, The Moving Picture World, July 24, 1915:

"The young doctor speaks to the little cripple - 'Drop your crutch and come to me!' Lo and behold, she obeys! Is it the voice of science or is it the voice of love? Harry Benham and Grace DeCarlton tell the story so sweetly and powerfully that they take a new grip on your love for them."

SYNOPSIS, The Moving Picture World, July 10, 1915:

"The village blacksmith's one sorrow was due to the fact that his daughter was a hopeless invalid. She suffered from an affliction of the spine, and the local practitioners could afford no relief. One day there came a ray of hope: a wonderful specialist from the great city came to the town. He had been summoned to attend the wife of a wealthy man, who owned a vast estate where he resided in summer. Perhaps he might be able to help; so the blacksmith went to the great house and was lucky enough to find the doctor, just as he was departing. The great practitioner was in an unpleasant mood. His wealthy patient was one of those women who delight in thinking they are sick, and after a brief examination he had gruffly told her so. The doctor was wealthy and the fee was a matter of unimportance. What he resented was losing his time, and he was anxious to get back to the city, so he hardly listened to the blacksmith, told him he had just time to get the train, and hurried off down a country lane.

"A few minutes later, while passing through a lonely part of the road, the doctor was attacked. At first he thought he had fallen into the hands of robbers, but his assailant said he was the man who accosted him at the 'great house,' and unless he came and treated his 'little gal' he, the doctor, would never get back to the city alive. The doctor was impressed with the blacksmith's anxiety, and consented to accompany him. When he met his patient-to-be, he was struck with her beauty and sweetness, and readily agreed to give her the best of care. Interested in both his patient and her ease, he worked hard to bring about a cure, and one day, while they were seated at the waterfront, he told her she had fully recovered. She could not believe him; he then walked for a few paces away, told her he loved her and wanted to marry her. He knew that she loved him by the way she listened to the words he said, so he tried his final experiment. Holding out his arms to her he said, 'Throw away your crutch and come to me.' With love in her heart she obeyed him, and the doctor's patient was well and happy again."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, July 31, 1915:

"The wife of an army officer imagines herself an invalid. A specialist is sent for, who discovers she is shamming and tricks her into walking alone. Later he operates on a lame girl, falls in love with her and teaches her to walk. Harry Benham plays the leading role; the girl cripple was appealing in her few scenes. A pretty story, well handled."

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