Volume II: Filmography

WHILE BABY SLEPT

Production stills by Carl Louis Gregory who commented on the back of a print: "William Russell in a tense animal story made by Thanhouser in which he rescues a sleeping baby from a live 12-foot python (either "Steve" or "Phryne). Russell was so frightened of the snake that just a second after this photo was taken he backed up into the scenery and brought the whole set onto himself and the child. Fortunately no serious harm occurred." Courtesy Ralph Graham, M.D. (F-570-1 & F570-2)

British release title: WHEN BABY SLEPT

June 10, 1913 (Tuesday)

Length: 1 reel

Character: Drama

Scenario: Lloyd F. Lonergan

Cast: Riley Chamberlin (the helpless grandpa), William Russell (the husband), Marguerite Snow (the wife)

SYNOPSIS, The Moving Picture World, June 14, 1913:

The young farmer's wife had one trial, her husband's father. He was old and peevish, and so wracked and crippled by illness that he could not walk a step. The woman declared that something must be done and on numerous occasions pleaded with her husband to send the old man to the poor house. The farmer long resisted, but at last he yielded and the woman drove away triumphantly, to make arrangements at the alms house. The old man knew what was contemplated. Helpless and friendless he sat in his chair, and prayed for death. Who could blame him? His wife [sic; should be daughter-in-law], as has been stated, was on her way to the alms house. The old man's son was at work in the fields, and the invalid was alone in the house, except for the tiny grandchild, who was slumbering peacefully in the adjoining room. The outer door was open, and through it crept a venomous snake. It paid no attention to the old man, but squirmed and wriggled its way into the inner room where the baby was slumbering.

The invalid loved the child, but he was powerless to aid him. He was a quick-witted man, however, and discovered a way to send out the alarm. The farmer's pet dog came in the house, and the invalid, writing a note, attached it to the dog's collar, then sent him out to find his master. The warning reached the farmer just in time, and he saved his baby son, just as the wife arrived with an attendant from the alms house detailed to remove the old man there. When the woman found out what had happened during her absence she was conscience stricken, and tenderly embracing the old man, told him that his home would always be with them, adding, 'John and I can never forget that to you alone we owe the life of our little son.' And the old man no longer prayed for death, because happiness had entered his life, which had long been one of sickness and sorrow.

REVIEW, The Morning Telegraph, June 15, 1913: This review is reprinted in the narrative section of the present work.

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, June 21, 1913:

A live snake dominates this picture, and it causes fully as many shudders as could be desired. There is a circus parade from which the snake escapes. It crawls into a house occupied only by an old man, a baby, and a dog. The snake crawls onto the bed with the baby, and the old man, who was physically helpless, sends a note by the dog to call the father to the rescue. This is successful as a sensation, but will probably be repulsive to sensitive observers.

REVIEW, The New York Dramatic Mirror, June 18, 1913:

A ten-foot snake hovering over an eight-week-old baby ready to devour it is a bad situation for anyone with sensitive nerves, or a sensitive appreciation of what is pleasant and what is morbid in a film play. In order to give the average spectator a thrill the producers have gone to considerable trouble, and there is no denying that they have provided the picture with thrills, but when thrills are had at the expense of good taste there is no room for great rejoicing. And it is more than probable that the situation contrived is going to offend some. Helpless and sick, the old grandfather is the victim of charity in his son's house. Daughter-in-law wishes to send him to the poor house, and it is while she is off arranging for this that a snake, escaped from the circus, crawls under the house, around the chair of the old man and into the room containing the sleeping baby. Though unable to lend physical aid, the grandfather sends a warning by the boy [sic; the synopsis says dog], who acts as messenger. For this act, grandfather is allowed to remain.

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