The Girl at the Cupola (1912)

movie

(20)

Country: USA
Genres: Drama, Short
Release: 1912-08-08
Director: Oscar Eagle
Writers: Hugh King Harris
Language: None | English
Stars: Kathlyn Williams , Thomas Commerford , Charles Clary , Frank Weed , Vera Hamilton , Evelyn Allen , Allen Mathes , Frederick Bernard , Julius Frankenburg , William Stowell
Runtime: min
Awards: N/A
AKA: The Girl at the Cupola (United States of America) , The Girl at the Cupola
Plot: Silas Wilson, owner of the Wilson Iron Foundries, is suddenly brought to a realization of the fact that his business is fast being run to the ground, and that he cannot hope to longer compete with the newer foundries unless he makes radical changes in his methods and employers. His workmen have grown old and antiquated in his employ and he hates to turn them out, but can see no other remedy in sight. Through the influence of his daughter, the general managership is passed over to her fiancé, one Jack Berry, a young man, well trained in the school of modern methods. He is given carte blanche and told to reorganize the business. His first act, as manager, is to issue a notice discharging all of the old-timers. He sends for a number of new and younger men to fill their places. This action incurs for him the enmity of the discharged workers who resolve to get him. Jessie is torn between two fires. Her sympathies are with the old employees, but she is engaged to Jack. When she learns, however, of the misery that will come to the families of some of the discharged men, she turns against her fiancé and stands by the workmen. She learns that the new men are to arrive the next noon and gives this information to the discharged forces. When the newcomers arrive they are met by an angered, riotous mob and a rough and tumble battle ensues. Jack has waited at the foundry in order to keep the fires going, so that the new men can go to work the moment that they arrive. The fighting mob are gradually working their way toward the foundry doors, when the discharged men suddenly gain a momentary advantage over the newcomers. Wild over their brief victory, they break in the foundry doors and begin to hunting for young Berry. Jessie, who has followed the infuriated crowd, realizes her lover's danger, and rushes to find and warn him. All sympathies for the discharged and murderous workmen are now forgotten and her entire energies are merged into the one hope of saving that dear life. She finds Jack by the cupola door. One of the maddened men has sneaked up behind Berry and is just about to stab him in the back when Jessie, with a scream of warning, grabs up an iron bar and floors the would-be murderer. With a about of anger the frenzied crowd make a rush toward the new superintendent. Grasping the situation, the girl, with almost superhuman strength, acts instantaneously. With one blow of the iron bar she breaks the furnace door and a fiery stream of molten iron pours out and across the foundry floor. This acts as a successful barrier to the onrushing mob and their fiendish desires are thwarted when a few moments later the new men rush to the rescue and the uprising is quelled for all time.
IMDB:tt0221213