When the Heart Calls (1914)

movie

Country: USA
Genres: Drama, Short
Release: 1914-08-06
Director: Herbert Brenon
Writers: N/A
Language: None | English
Stars: Hobart Henley , Violet Mersereau , William E. Shay , Mrs. Allen Walker , Ruth Donnelly , Frank Lanning , Katherine Lee , Jane Lee
Runtime: 20 min
Awards: N/A
AKA: When the Heart Calls , When the Heart Calls (United States of America)
Plot: A wealthy father disinherits his son on learning his intention to marry a chorus girl. The son defies his father and marries the girl. Together they go to live on a farm. Time passes and poverty follows the young people, though their love for each other grows stronger. And all the while the old man, alone in his mansion, misses his son. Pride, however, prevents him calling the boy back, and the days pass in loneliness. His great wealth brings him no happiness. While plowing in the fields one day the son, weakened by hardship and anxiety for his wife and children, is suddenly stricken with paralysis. The family is plunged in gloom. The small savings disappear; the wife tries to hide the worst of it from the children and the husband. One day the old father leaves the mansion for a few weeks' visit to a small country village. He hopes to get away from the old familiar scenes and forget the sorrows that press upon him. Meantime the two children beg their mother for permission to wander in the fields. Shortly after we find them by the lake shore picking flowers. Nearby the old grandfather is strolling. The children are wading in the water. They get out beyond their depth and death threatens them. The grandfather hears their cries for help. He rushes to their rescue. Once safe on land, he takes them to their mother. The children have insisted on this. The mother greets the children frantically and thanks the old man. Strangely fascinated by him, the babes climb upon his knee and he clasps them with a smile. The wife asks him to come in and meet her husband. And as the old man stands in the doorway he sees his son, helpless in a chair. And as he gazes, all the old grudge and anger is forgotten and, dropping on his knees, he weeps over his boy and begs forgiveness.
IMDB:tt0324534