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A Determined Woman
Also known as [A Discontented Woman]
(1910) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by Harry Solter
Cast: Florence Lawrence, King Baggot
Independent Moving Pictures Company, Incorporated [IMP] production; distributed by Motion Picture Distributing & Sales Company. / Produced by Carl Laemmle. / Released 9 June 1910. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? In those days when women are prone to take on the causes of modern society with militant energy, it is not at all surprising to learn that in many cases they leave neglected households as monuments of their good purposes. Mrs. Smith evidently considers the cares of a household a burden, for she spends most of her time at the Suffragette’s Club. It may be all right for a woman to do this when she is neglecting nothing more than a mere husband, but when two fine little children are included in the case it alters the aspect of things. Mr. Smith himself is a patient suffering mortal, and for a while voices no very strenuous objections to his wife’s political activities. He is accustomed to finding no supper on getting home from the office and a huge stack of unwashed dishes has ceased to be an eyesore to him. A man's brain cannot work on an empty stomach and, therefore, Smith, in the course of time, begins to realize his plight, and beginning at first with little pleadings he is finally aroused to a spirit of full-fledged rebellion. When he sees that his arguments are of no avail, he determines on a bold course. One fine morning he collects all of the unwashed pots, pans, plates and other eating utensils and piling them into a wheelbarrow conveys the whole outfit around to the Club where his wife is engaged in an active discussion on some economic questions. Without any ceremony he dumps the entire burden at his wife's feet and leaves her to draw conclusions. But even this masterstroke of independence does no good in his case. Some men have found by study and others by experience that as truly as the way to a man’s heart lies through his stomach, so does the way to a woman’s brain lie through her heart. Smith determines to play upon her feelings. He engages a maid, who besides having the qualifications of a thrifty domestic is also ravishingly pretty. He gives her full charge of the domain his wife deserted and awaits developments. Needless to say, in a short while the wrecked home presents a picture of system and neatness, the children are better cared for, Smith finds his meals always waiting for him and every little thing in the house is in its rightful place. For some time Mrs. Smith considers the engagement of the girl a great convenience to her personal self and she views with satisfaction the restoration of her home to its former happy condition, but ere long the woman in her comes to the fore and by degrees she becomes jealous of the maid. Slowly at first, but nevertheless surely, she begins to realize that her home is something which a woman should value even higher than civic motive; womanlike she is reluctant to concede the success of her husband’s plan but her emotions are beyond her control and she finally pours out to her husband what his actions have placed in her heart and he, magnanimous, but secretly thankful, graciously restores her to the old place in their home.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 5 April 2020.
References: Sloan-Loud pp. 106, 147 : Website-IMDb.
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