|
The Black Sheep
(1915) United States of America
B&W : Two reels
Directed by J. Farrell MacDonald
Cast: Edward Cecil [Simeon Carruthers], Hector V. Sarno [Philip Carruthers, Simeon’s son], Jane Wolfe [the Widow Dallas], G. Raymond Nye [Stewart Routh], Violet Reid (Violet Reed) [Harriet], Vola Smith (Vola Vale) [Clare]
Biograph Company production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Released 4 May 1915. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? The excesses of his dissipated son, Philip, bring Simeon Carruthers to the verge of financial ruin. His efforts to reform Philip prove vain; they quarrel, and the boy leaves his father’s house forever. In order to recoup his fortune Carruthers proposes to the rich widow Dallas. After their marriage the widow’s son, George, returns from abroad. He is a rising young novelist. Carruthers is informed by a firm of solicitors that he has been appointed a guardian of his deceased brother’s daughter, Clare, who inherits a fortune. The girl comes to live with him. and he determines that she shall marry Philip, for whom detectives, hired by him, are searching the city. Philip has fallen in with Stewart Routh, a gambler, whose pretty wife, Harriet, is of great assistance to him in fleecing young men. The gamblers cheat Philip of all his money, and when he discovers the trick, propose that he enter into partnership with them. He accepts and becomes active in the business. Clare falls in love with George, a circumstance which so displeases Carruthers that he plans to get rid of the novelist. He contrives to make George appear guilty of having stolen his pocketbook, and orders him from the house. George’s novel is accepted and he receives advance royalties. He falls in with Philip, who introduces him to the Rouths. The partners cheat him at cards. He takes his loss so heavily that Philip pities him and returns his money. The Rouths do not approve of this, and a quarrel ensues, as a result of which Stewart Routh kills Philip. Suspicion is fastened upon George, and he is arrested. Clare, visiting him in prison, learns that he, coming upon the scene after the murder, found a button clasped in Philip’s hand. She is on her way to question the Rouths when she meets a Salvation Army collector of old clothing, who has just received from the gambler’s wife an overcoat with a button missing. The button matches those on the coat. As the police enter Routh’s apartment he commits suicide. George is cleared.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 8 April 2020.
References: Spehr-American p. 1 : Website-IMDb.
|
