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The Failure
(1911) United States of America
B&W : Short film
Directed by D.W. Griffith
Cast: Wilfred Lucas [the clerk], Dorothy Bernard [the woman], Lily Cahill [the clerk’s fiancée], Edwin August [the woman’s sweetheart], Grace Henderson [the fiancée’s mother], Adolph Lestina [the bank manager; and a man in the tavern], Donald Crisp [a bank employee], J. Jiquel Lanoe [a bank employee; and a man in the tavern], J. Waltham [the tavern owner], W. Christy Cabanne (Christy Cabanne) [a man at the fiancée’s house; and a man in the tavern], Joseph Graybill [a man at the fiancée’s house], Robert Harron [a man at the fiancée's house; and a man in the tavern], Edward Dillon [a man in the tavern], Frank Evans [a man in the tavern], Dell Henderson [a man in the tavern], Harry Hyde [a man in the tavern], Charles Hill Mailes [a man in the tavern], Alfred Paget [a man in the tavern], W.C. Robinson [a man in the tavern], Kate Toncray [a woman in the tavern], Walter Hiers [a waiter], Claire McDowell
Biograph Company production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Scenario by M.B. Havey (Maie B. Havey). Cinematography by G.W. Bitzer. / Released 7 December 1911. / [?] Biograph 35mm spherical format?
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? A man’s a failure through his own fault, for he who is bound not to give up is sure of success. The hero of this Biograph story gives way under the pressure of bad fortune, instead of fighting against it. His sweetheart, disappointed in him, turns him aside. Down the hill he goes until he is finally a singer in a low dance hall. Here he meets a young woman, who, through the want of strength of willpower, has gone about the same downward road as he. She, however, realizes that it is impossible for her to turn back; ’tis the way of the world, but for him, but for him, yes. He gets a chance if he will marry and settle down on a farm, and while he is willing he hasn’t even the money to get him the place. The girl, unknown to him, helps him to take advantage of the offer. He goes to seek his former sweetheart, only to find himself forgotten, so he reasons that as it was the dance hall girl’s persuasion that influenced him to brace up. He, of course, still ignorant of the extent of her aid; she would be the one with whom to begin the new life.
Survival status: Print exists.
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Alcohol - Animals: Horses - Bookkeepers - Brooms - Dance halls - Drunkeness - Engagements - Farmers - Inheritances - Lost jobs - Pride - Tobacco: Cigarettes
Listing updated: 15 December 2024.
References: Film credits, film viewing : Barry-Griffith p. 43; Spehr-American p. 1 : Website-IMDb.
Home video: DVD.
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