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A Bluegrass Romance
(1913) United States of America
B&W : [?] One or Two? reels
Directed by [?] Francis Ford and/or Charles Giblyn?
Cast: Joe King [Lieutenant Burr], Ray Myers [Robert Breckinridge, the son], J. Barney Sherry [Judge Breckinridge, the father], Ethel Grandin [Alma Breckinridge, the daughter], Francis Ford
New York Motion Picture Company production; distributed by Mutual Film Corporation [Broncho]. / Produced by Thomas H. Ince. Scenario by Harry G. Stafford. / Released 15 January 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Historical: Civil War.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Judge Breckenridge and his wife, his daughter, Alma, and his son, Robert, are living together in 1861. Robert is expelled from a military academy on account of his intemperance, and comes home. The judge is very angry. Robert’s habits do not improve, as he falls in with bad companions. The war breaks out and the town grows mad, waving flags and marching around. Recruits are called for, and Judge Breckenridge is elected an officer. Robert attempts to enlist, but his application is refused, as he is slightly inebriated at the time. Sullen and angry, Robert goes to a saloon, where he meets Lieut. Burr, a Federal secret service man, in disguise. Burr makes himself agreeable and the two become friends. Late at night Robert goes home and endeavors to sneak into the house. The judge awakens and, finding Robert in an intoxicated condition, again orders him away and disowns him. The next day Burr meets Robert and persuades him to accept a commission in the government secret service, and following the plan outlined, Robert goes to another Confederate post and enlists. Scenes of battle are shown, with thrilling encounters between the two armies. Robert manages to keep in communication with Burr, and it is arranged to lure the Confederates into an ambush. Robert receives a letter from his mother, as follows: “My Dear Son, Was so thankful to hear from you. Your father joined the Fifth Virginia and is somewhere in your locality. He will be proud when he knows that you are fighting for the cause. God guard you and bring you safely back to me. With greatest love. Mother.” The darkies are singing “My Old Kentucky Home,” and as the strains of the music from the banjos come to his ears Robert’s thoughts are wafted back to his home. In a tremendous conflict of emotions he has a revulsion of feeling and decides not to betray the South. Accordingly he sends a false dispatch to Burr, telling him that the rebels will attack Benton Bridge that night, but to disregard it, as it is a ruse to distract attention from the enemy’s left, which they intend to storm in full force. Burr therefore protects the left wing of the Union army, and the Confederates attack in full force, sweeping away the right wing and falling on the left and defeating it. During the thrilling battle Robert is wounded, and in undressing him the messages from Burr are found. He is arrested as a spy, and a dramatic scene takes place as his father, in charge of the court martial, finds that he is to judge his own son. Robert is convicted and sentenced to be shot, meeting his death without fear. The war ends. Some years afterward Judge Breckenridge and his wife are seen in their home. While reading the paper the judge comes to the following item: “Supposed Southern Traitor Really a Hero.” “A remarkable instance of wartime has just come to light through a statement made by Lieut. Burr, U.S.A. Secret Service, during the war. It seems that Robert Breckenridge, the son of Judge Breckenridge of Blairsville, Ky., was not the traitor he has been pictured, but was really a Southern hero, as it was through his loyalty and strategy that the South won the battle of Blairsville.”
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: History: USA: American Civil War (1861-1865) - USA
Listing updated: 6 April 2020.
References: ClasIm-224 p. 42 : Website-IMDb.
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