Volume II: Filmography

BIG SISTER

August 11, 1912 (Sunday)

Length: 1 reel

Character: Drama

Cast: Helen Badgley (the baby), "Smiling Joe," Florence LaBadie (society woman), Mignon Anderson (big sister)

Locations: Sea Breeze Hospital, Coney Island, New York, and other Coney Island areas; East Side slums in New York City

Note: Smiling Joe, who lived at Sea Breeze Hospital, was a crippled boy who achieved fame by raising $250,000. Thanhouser enlisted his services for the film.

ARTICLE, The Moving Picture News, August 3, 1912:

"Big Sister shows the love of a poor orphan girl for her tiny sister. Desperate circumstances cause her to give over the baby to a rich family for adoption, but she cannot bear life without her infant sister, so through a kindly copper she gets a position in the kitchen of the house of riches and so is able to be near the little one. The policeman falls in love with 'Big Sister' and they wed. Then the officer and his wife go boldly to the rich woman who has adopted the little sister, and persuade her to give over the child to them, whereupon their happiness in naturally made complete."

SYNOPSIS, The Moving Picture World, August 10, 1912:

"They were two little orphans, one so small that she really couldn't work, and while the other girl was scarcely 16 and small for her age, she had to do the work of a full-grown woman. One hot summer day a kindly lady connected with a most worthy charity entered the poor home of the orphans, asked the elder girl if she would like to go to the seashore with the baby. The girl was delighted, but, she ruefully explained, it was absolutely necessary for her to keep on working, and she could not spare the time. Still if some way could be arranged whereby the baby would enjoy the fresh ocean breezes the elder sister would be more than delighted. A way was found, for the visitor took the child with her as her own particular guest. There was a big party of them that went to Coney Island, but, in the opinion of the visitor, there was no child present who could compare with the child she chaperoned. On their return to town, she spoke to the sister, told her the love for the child that had crept into her life, and offered to adopt the little one. 'Big Sister' realized what the offer might mean to the baby and consented to let her go, although with a heavy heart.

"As the days passed the elder girl became more and more lonely. She haunted the vicinity of the baby's new home, and finally aroused the suspicion, as well as the admiration of the policeman on duty on that block. He questioned her kindly. She told him about the baby, and he used his influence with the good-natured cook, an old friend of his, who willingly gave the girl a position in the kitchen. There she was occasionally able to feast her eyes upon the baby, but her position was so humble that the lady of the house never knew she was there. In fact, the first intimation her employer received was when a policeman in full uniform came up the steps of her home, and sent in a note by the butler. In this missive he explained that he was very anxious to marry the lady kitchen maid, but was unable to win her consent, unless she regain her small sister, now living in luxury in the same house. The astonished woman called in the policeman and also summoned the cook's assistant. On questioning them she was satisfied that the baby would have a good home and willingly surrendered the child, for while it was a sorrow to give up the baby she had grown to love, she had many other sources of happiness, and she was convinced that the little one was the only happiness and comfort the sister had enjoyed up to the time she met her big, good-hearted policeman suitor."

REVIEW, The Morning Telegraph, August 18, 1912:

"Following a recently established practice of utilizing actual events and affairs on which to build a photo-story, the Thanhouser Company here weaves a most interesting play about the Sea Breeze Society of New York, a charity which takes poor folk of all ages, regardless of sex, and gives them an outing at a nearby beach resort. Many of the scenes of the play include views of the summer home of this charity, showing how the guests are entertained and cared for, including invalids as well as healthy folk. The story is made double entertaining by the injection of a little romance. A 'big sister' is visited by a wealthy woman, who is interested in the work of this charity and invited to send her little sister for a day's outing. The child is taken to the Sea Breeze Home, via trolley, along with scores of other urchins of the tenements. There she is given a bounteous dinner, is allowed to dig in the sands, romp under the trees, swing in the swings, take a dip in the ocean, and enjoy herself to her heart's content. She is taken home at the end of her happy day, and then the rich woman persuades the big sister to allow her to adopt the child. Lonely and heartsore at the separation the girl walks to the home of the wealthy woman, and there sees her little sister enter the house with her foster mother. She breaks down at the sight and a kindly policeman asks her her troubles. She tells her story and he offers to introduce her to the cook of the establishment, and is given a position as kitchen maid. A love affair springs up between her and the officer, who at last proposes and is told that she will marry him if she can have her little sister with her. He makes a plea to the society woman, the request is granted, and the trio are thus made happy. The entire play carries a strong heart interest, and from its beginning is consistently developed, exceptionally well acted and most creditably staged."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture News, August 10, 1912:

"Interesting to the philanthropist, and it is educational. This film will be welcomed by audiences outside of New York, because it takes them to the East Side slums. An interesting little romance is woven into a tale of East Side children, which is the outcome of the taking of the children to the seashore by the Sea Breeze Society. This film follows the little ones from their homes to the seaside; shows them playing, bathing, eating, etc."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, August 24, 1912:

"The Sea Breeze Home for little unfortunates is featured in this picture. On that account the film will be particularly valuable in settlement work, although for its dramatic quality and workmanlike construction it will be interesting to any audience. It is a pretty story."

REVIEW, The New York Dramatic Mirror, August 14, 1912:

"This picture has the usual pleasing atmosphere of the productions of this company, although it arrives at some of its conclusions perhaps a little bit hastily. The girl supporting a baby sister by toiling hard on the East Side. The Sea Breeze Association is giving an outing for poor people, when one of the wealthy women members takes charge of the little sister on the picnic. She becomes so attached to the little girl that she finally persuades the big sister to let her adopt the child. But the older sister becomes lonely and goes to the vicinity of the mansion. A policeman heaves in sight, hears a few words of explanation, and on the spot he gets a job for big sister in the kitchen of the rich woman's house. About the next day he proposes, but learns that the sister will not marry him until he gets her little sister back. This the policeman accomplishes by a simple statement of the case to the wealthy woman, who relinquishes the child with no argument whatever. And preparations for the wedding then begin."

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