Women and War (1913)

movie

Country: USA
Genres: Drama, Romance, Short
Release: 1913-06-21
Director: Allan Dwan
Writers: Wallace Reid
Language: None | English
Stars: Wallace Reid , Pauline Bush , Jessalyn Van Trump , Marshall Neilan
Runtime: 20 min
Awards: N/A
AKA: Women and War (United States of America) , Women and War
Plot: During the Civil War there were two sisters living in Virginia, who had as a near neighbor a young, wealthy and patriotic man, who visited them frequently. The elder sister was plain and attractive, but possessing a patriotic spirit and sterling qualities. The younger sister was pretty and doll-like, superficial, frivolous and fond of luxury. The elder sister was capable of a deep and undying devotion, while the younger was only capable of shallow affection. Both of the sisters love the neighbor in their separate ways. He is sub-consciously attracted by the inner worth of the elder sister, but this attraction is overbalanced by the beauty of the younger. The one thing in common between the elder sister and the neighbor is their respect and patriotic love for the stars and stripes, despite all interstate controversy. The younger sister, on the other hand, is too frivolous to even be partisan. Patriotism to her is nothing but sentimental twaddle. The younger sister plainly tells the elder one that she is in love with the neighbor and is determined to win him. The elder sister, smarting under the taunts of the younger one about her plain looks, assumes an indifferent attitude towards the neighbor, who finds solace in the youngers smile and in a moment of impulse he asks her to become his wife. She accepts and he departs rejoicing. The elder sisters hopes are completely dashed when the younger sister comes to her and confides in her, telling of the young mans proposal and her acceptance. She congratulates her happy young sister and the neighbor and then goes away alone to nurse the hurt of this announcement. She realizes that her love for the man is so great that she cannot bear to see him day after day and watch her sisters happiness with him, and determines to enlist in the regular army as a field nurse. The neighbor misses the elder sister in a vague sort of way, but his affections are still possessed by the beauty of the younger girl. At this time President Lincoln sends out a call for volunteers, and much against the younger girls wishes, the neighbor goes to the front as a captain of volunteer cavalry. The elder sister is of the volunteers. Therefore, they do not meet and she, imaging him still at home, dreams of the two happy ones at home and is sad. On the eve of a great battle, the neighbor receives a letter of love written in the child-like fashion of the younger girl. During the battle the neighbor is severely wounded by an exploding shell. The first meeting between him and the elder sister occurs when she finds him wounded and unconscious on the field. She has him brought to the hospital where she nurses him back to life in order to save him for her little sister. In his delirium the face of the younger sister begins to fade and the face of the elder to take its place, and as he slowly comes back to health, the realization comes to him that his real love is for the elder sister. After the crisis his illness has passed, the doctor discovers that the young man will be totally blind as a result of the accident. The elder sister is detailed to take him home. With the assistance of an orderly, she takes him back to his own apartment and sends for the younger sister. When she discovers that he is blind, the younger sister visualizes what her future life as the wife of a blind man will be and her shallow nature revolts at the thought. She gives him back the ring and without any pangs of regret, returns to the frivolities of her life. The elder sister is torn between hope for herself and pity for the man. She goes to him, and he, realizing at last the barrier is down, tells her of his real feelings and slowly folds her in his arms, both at last happy in each others love. -- Moving Picture World synopsis
IMDB:tt0003567