Volume II: Filmography

LOVE'S MIRACLE

May 10, 1912 (Friday)

Length: 1 reel

Character: Drama

Director: George O. Nichols

Cameraman: A.H. Moses, Jr.

Cast: Marguerite Snow (the invalid), James Cruze (the convict-lover)

Location: Florida

SYNOPSIS, The Moving Picture News, April 27, 1912:

"Wealth does not always bring happiness. The girl was young, rich, but an invalid, and noted physicians who cared for her shook their heads wisely and gravely pronounced her case as one of generally ill health, a gradual wasting away. Her one trouble, although the physicians did not suspect it, was that the girl did not really care whether she lived or died. Life was tiresome, she had no one to care for, nothing to be interested in, whether the end came sooner or later did not seem to her to be a matter of much concern. Then came a startling change. The girl, in her invalid's chair, was seated on the beach one pleasant morning when a convict, hunted by dogs and men, swam ashore at her feet. He first threatened her, then begged her protection. The girl listened with interest. She realized that here was a fellow invalid, for while her ailment was physical, his was moral, and it struck her that while no one apparently could cure her, she could and would cure him. So she provided a hiding place for him, supplied him with food, clothing and money, and aided him to elude his pursuers. All she asked of him was that he lead a new life, and this he solemnly promised that he would do.

"Time passed on, much to her surprise she heard from her 'patient.' He was not as bad as she thought, in fact he had been sent to jail for another's crime and was able later to establish his innocence. Other letters told of his making a new place in the world and steadily forging ahead, each brief a message that he owed everything he had or expected to have to her. Not many months after the hunted and disheartened convict had stolen from her presence, the girl met him again. But this time he came to her a free man, his head erect, the joy of living in his eyes. He told her that he had come to pay his debt of gratitude for the new life she had placed within his hands, by showing her that the future held nothing but happiness for them both. He asked her to become his wife, but the girl, feeling she was a confirmed invalid, refused him, although he had grown to be her whole life. Then the miracle transpired. With her hands clasped in his, and his eyes looking into hers, he told her that she was no longer ill, that she was to grow well and strong for his sake. Standing a few paces away he held out his arms to her, breathing the one word, 'Come.' Scarcely realizing what she was doing, the girl struggled trembling to her feet, and stood alone, as she had not done for years. Then smiling and confident of her power to conquer death, she walked into the arms of love."

REVIEW, The Morning Telegraph, May 12, 1912:

"Wholly uncommon in conception, beautifully put on in its gorgeous outdoor Florida scenes, well acted and consistently evolved, this Thanhouser photoplay takes its place with the many fine predecessors of the same make. A convict escapes from prison and in his getaway comes upon an invalid girl, who is sunning herself in her wheeled chair on the shore. She directs him where to hide and then calling her nurses sends him a bag of clothes and some money. He gets away successfully and a year or so later returns, after having proven his innocence and secured his pardon. The love between the pair develops and in the end he bids her by the power of their love to rise from her chair and walk to him and the miracle is effected."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, May 18, 1912:

"There are some beautiful views of Florida in this picture, its palms and its swampy Everglades by moonlight and at morning. The situation is new and is a good one. It shows us how love, waking in the heart of an invalid who hadn't walked for years, gave her the new life and strength to throw off her weakness. It is very well played by Miss Marguerite Snow and Mr. Cruze, who make of it a picture full of good entertainment and one that pleased the audience. There are a thousand variations possible on this theme; they can be found, taken from real life, in medical books dealing with psychotherapy. This may be a good suggestion to scenario writers."

REVIEW, The New York Dramatic Mirror, May 15, 1912:

"This is a tale of how the seeds of love were sown in the heart of an unhappy woman, and how that love, once implanted, was the instrument of ennobling and beautifying her character, multiplying the joys of existence, and ultimately of curing her of a life-long physical deformity. The wealthy invalid from birth was reclining listlessly in her easy chair by the sea's edge when she was startled by the sudden appearance of a man in prison garb, drenched to the skin and in a state of collapse. The wretch threw himself upon her mercy and begged her not to reveal him to the authorities. Her pity was touched by his helplessness, so she procured dry clothes for him, gave him a small amount of currency and bade him depart for new regions, there to commence life over again. Love proverbially defies distances and conventions, and adapts itself to every age and circumstance, so one is not startled when the invalid, whose nature had been starving for some such emotion as this, yielded herself to the sweet contemplation of a life of happiness with the stranger. After months of hoping against hope, he came to her, an exonerated man, and declared his love. She fearfully mentioned her deformity as an obstacle to their marriage. He bade her arise and come to him, and sustained by an unfaltering trust she tossed aside her crutch and walked! The story may have its improbabilities, but who shall deny the power of a mighty love to accomplish marvelous things? James Cruze portrays the convict-lover, and Miss Snow the invalid in this delightfully fresh and interesting romantic drama."

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