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Wilfred Lucas.
Frame enlargement: Silent Era image collection.
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Enoch Arden
(1911) United States of America
B&W : Two reels / 1997 feet
Directed by D.W. Griffith
Cast: Wilfred Lucas [Enoch Arden], Linda Arvidson, Florence La Badie, Robert Harron, Frank Grandon
Biograph Company production; distributed by Biograph Company. / From the poem “Enoch Arden” by Alfred Lord Tennyson. / © June 1911 by Biograph Company. The film was released in two parts: [1] released 12 June 1911; [2] released 15 June 1911. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / Biograph’s first official two reeler was still released in two parts. The film has main titles, with a director credit, a cast list, and intertitles. The film was rereleased in the USA in two reels by Biograph Company on 29 August 1916.
Drama: Historical.
Synopsis: [Biograph Bulletins, 1911, page ?] PART ONE. There is small need to describe this subject, as the poem of Lord Tennyson is so well known, so suffice it to say that this Biograph suject is an unusually faithful portrayal of that beautiful romance of Enoch Arden, Annie Lee and Philip Ray taken in scenes of rare beauty. This first part tells of the betrothal of Enoch and Annie, the despair of Enoch at his inability to cope with the demands of his increasing family obligations, and his sailing away to recoup his fortunes on a vessel bound for China. A storm is encountered, the vessel wrecked, and Enoch with two companions is washed upon a tropical island, where they are forced to stay. Annie all the while is ever hopeful of his return, while Philip, though an unsuccessful rival, shows a kindly interest in the little grief-stricken family. PART TWO. This is the second part of the subject, the first showing the marriage of Enoch and Annie, and his sailing off to recoup his fortunes. The vessel is wrecked, he with two companions is stranded on an isle where they are forced to remain. Meanwhile, Annie is ever hopeful of his return. This part begins several years later, and while Philip sues for the hand of Annie she refuses, still faithful to her hope of Enoch’s return. Finally she accepts for the sake of her children, and when her new baby came — Philip’s child — she is Philip’s all-in-all. Meanwhile, a ship in quest of water puts in at the island, and Enoch, now alone, his comrades having died, is rescued. His homecoming is sad indeed, and he welcomes the death that keeps Annie in happy ignorance.
Survival status: Print exists in the Library of Congress film archive (paper print collection) [35mm paper positive].
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Babies - Beaches - Beds - Boulders - Candles - Children - Cradles - Death - Delusions - Devotion - Farewells - Gossips - Hats: Three-cornered hats - Huts - Kegs - Lockets - Love triangles - Oars - Oceans - Prayers - Premonitions - Rescues - Rivalries - Rowboats - Sailing ships - Seashores - Shawls - Shipwrecks - Telescopes - Tropical islands - Waves
Listing updated: 5 November 2008.
References: Film credits, film viewing : Barry-Griffith pp. 14, 42; Blum-Silent p. 25; Bohn-Light pp. xix, 51; Everson-American pp. 48, 368; Fell-History pp. 56, 58; Lahue-Collecting p. 22; Niver-First pp. 150, 153, 154, 159; Robinson-Palace pp. 129, 142, 146; Sinyard-Silent p. 22.
Home video: DVD.
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