Volume II: Filmography

A LOVE OF LONG AGO

April 9, 1912 (Tuesday)

Length: 1 reel

Character: Drama

Director: George O. Nichols

Cameraman: A.H. Moses, Jr.

Cast: Florence LaBadie (the heroine, the archer's daughter who falls in love with a 'spy'), William Russell (commandant), Joseph Graybill (Pedro; described by The New York Dramatic Mirror as "the man with the little black mustache"), George O. Nichols (a monk), James Cruze

Location: St. Augustine, Florida; the old Spanish fort there is the "castle" in the film

SYNOPSIS, The Moving Picture News, March 30, 1912:

"In one of the rural sections of Spain they tell a story, handed down from generation to generation, of the brave soldier, Pedro, and the sacrifice he made for his lady fair. Graves may be leveled by this time, and monuments molder and resolve into dust, but Pedro's fame is not so perishable, for the story of his exploit can never be forgotten. He was only a humble soldier, stationed at a fort, and he loved a maiden who lived in a village nearby. The girl liked him, flirted with him, and perhaps someday might have married him, had not the 'other man' appeared. The other was a stranger, who suddenly appeared in the village, and secured lodgings with the girl's mother. He quickly won the maiden's love and they were planning to get married, when he was arrested. It happened that Pedro was the one who took him into custody, and then he learned for the first time that the girl's heart belonged to the other man.

"At the fort the stranger was questioned, the belief being that he was a spy, but as no documents were found in his possession, the commander of the garrison simply ordered him detained, and did not lock him in the cell, never dreaming that he could escape, when every exit was closely guarded. The stranger's case was desperate, for he really was what he was suspected of being, a spy. The girl determined to rescue him, and after informing him of her plan, shot an arrow over the ramparts at night. A light cord was attached to the arrow, and to this in turn was tied a heavy rope, by means of which the prisoner could escape. The plan worked successfully, until the stranger was just starting on his perilous journey. Then Pedro discovered what was happening, and with a cry of alarm ran forward with drawn sword. He raised his blade to cut the rope, but glancing down saw the girl he loved, her arms raised appealingly to him. He realized that his rival's life was in his hands, and started to strike. Then like a flash he saw that upon him depended the girl's happiness, and he could not. On the contrary, he held back the soldiers who would have killed the stranger, was denounced as a traitor and, finally, fighting to the last gasp, fell, supposedly dead, into the sea.

"Years later, in a religious retreat, an aged monk, loved and venerated by all who knew him, died. Then the story, long a secret, was told to the world. Pedro was not killed, but narrowly escaped. He was found unconscious, washed upon the beach, by a monk, who nursed him back to health and strength. Later he joined the order, and became one of its devout members. 'And brother Pedro was not unhappy,' said the monk who told the story. 'Once on a pilgrimage, he saw the woman he loved. She was happy with the husband of her choice, and their child. He found, by cautious inquiry, that they loved and revered his memory, that the first prayer their child was taught was a petition for 'brave Pedro, who died for papa and mama.' No, he never revealed himself to them, and he never regretted what he had done for them. Pedro was buried in the simple graveyard of the monks. You cannot find his resting place, but his name is not forgotten, and never will be, by those who know the story of his sacrifice and devotion."

REVIEW, The Morning Telegraph, April 14, 1912:

"It is difficult to recall a more pleasingly produced photo-play of medieval setting done by an American company on American shores. The backgrounds furnished by the old fortifications at St. Augustine, Florida lend themselves most admirably to the tale, while the costuming, the good acting, the easy manner in which the play is presented, result in a presentation of the most superior sort. A girl is in love with a soldier, but a stranger appears and her love shifts to him. He is a spy and is suspected by the other, and the commandant is informed. He is arrested, but cleverly throws his papers over the castle walls into the sea before being searched. This latter business is poorly done, by the way, for the guards merely pass their hands over him in a most careless manner. The girl slips him a note telling him to watch for an arrow over a wall that night, and she carries out her plan by shooting an arrow over the parapet with a small line attached to a long rope. The lover escapes, and he and the girl ride away together. The other officer is arrested for his carelessness, but fights off the guards and the commandant, and jumps into the sea and swims to freedom. He enters a monastery and years later sees the girl and the man and their child happily together, and here the story ends."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, April 20, 1912:

"A romance of silk stocking and slashed-doublet days in Spain or Cuba. Miss Florence LaBadie plays the heroine, an archer's daughter. She has fallen in love with a stranger who is denounced and arrested as a spy. With the help of the girl he escapes. The picture was taken in Florida and the castle is the old fort at St. Augustine. The photographs are good. We hardly dare call it a feature; it is nearly one."

REVIEW, The New York Dramatic Mirror, April 17, 1912:

"An entertaining old Spanish tale is related upon this film with much character in the way of acting, suggestiveness of backgrounds, and general presentation, and reveals the love tragedy of a young soldier, whose love for the young archer's daughter was cast aside when the stranger appeared. He was found to be a spy and kept under guard of the lover. The girl sent her arrow up over the walls and attached to it was the string of the rope with which the spy escaped and she with him. The captain caused the young soldier to be hurled from a tower into the sea beneath, where he swam to safety, became a monk, and years afterward on a pilgrimage met the girl and the man, now the parents of a child. It is an impressive little picture, and very well conceived for this sort of thing."

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