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Duty
(1914) United States of America
B&W : Two reels
Directed by Étienne Arnaud
Cast: Alec B. Francis [Doctor Alexander], Belle Adair [Isabel, the doctor’s wife], Robert Frazer [Jack Welby], Helen Marten
Eclair Film Company of America production; distributed by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated. / Released 8 July 1914. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Dr. Alexander is devoted to his young wife, but she longs for excitement and the company of young people. He deems it necessary to reprove her because of her noisy friends. A breach is opened, which widens day after day. At a tango tea she is attracted by Welby, an artist. A brother physician of Alexander’s borrows some serum for a case of croup. Meanwhile the wife draws farther apart from the doctor until she consents to a proposal of elopement by the artist. She writes Welby where to meet her. On the same evening a child, afflicted with croup, is brought to the doctor and he finds his serum exhausted. In order to save the patient’s life he decides to apply his mouth to that of the boy and force a passage of air by respiration. He sends for his wife to help him, but she refuses. As she is packing her bag he enters and tells her that his work may cost him his life and she must be present. She obeys. As she sees the brave act of her doctor husband a swift revulsion of feeling comes and with it an overpowering love. Meanwhile, Welby is waiting impatiently. His life saved, the boy is carried home. Isabel renounces Welby. As he tries to commit suicide she seizes the gun. The cartridge explodes and wounds him. Isabel begs them not to send to Dr. Alexander and a messenger is sent to the drug store. Welby’s cousin, making a purchase, suggests that the doctor be called, out of jealousy for Isabel. Astounded at finding his wife at the studio he hesitates but a moment and then turns to write a prescription. He picks up Isabel’s letter to Welby. Silently handing her the letter he writes the prescription. With pardon in his eyes he leads her out and at last wife and husband have found themselves.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 11 July 1914, page ?] A two-reel number with Belle Adair as the charming young wife of a middle-aged doctor, played by Alec Francis. She falls a victim to the advances of a designing artist, played by Robert Frazer. The doctor’s heroic efforts to restore the boy’s health made an unusual situation. In this he is successful and later the young wife learns to appreciate his good qualities. The photography is uneven. As a whole the number is entertaining and agreeable in plot, although not at all powerful.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 29 October 2022.
References: ClasIm-221 p. 53 : Website-IMDb.
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