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A Fair Rebel
(1914) United States of America
B&W : [?] Three? reels
Directed by Frank Powell
Cast: Dorothy Gish [Joan Fitzhugh, the adopted sister], Charles West [Steve Montieth], Charles Perley [Ezra Mason], Linda Arvidson [Clairette Montieth, Steve’s sister], Robert Drouet [Captain DePerrin], Walter Lewis (Walter P. Lewis) [General Abner Monteith], Clara T. Bracy [Aunt Margie], H. Elsky (Harry Alaska) [Bill Bronson], G. Pierce (George C. Pearce) [Major James Stillman], Jack Brammall [Major Watkins], Florence Ashbrook (Florence Ashbrooke) [the old mammy], Frank Opperman [a Confederate officer], J. Martin [Nelse], [?] Lillian Gish?
Klaw & Erlanger production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by Marc Klaw and Abraham L. Erlanger. From a play by Harry Mawson. / © 21 May 1914 [LP3039]. Released [?] 21? May 1914. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The film was rereleased in the USA by The General Film Company, Incorporated, in 1916.
Drama: Historical: Civil War.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Steve Monteith and Ezra Mason, upper class men, and Bill Bronson, a plebe, are chums and roommates at West Point before the Civil War. Steve prepares to leave for his home in Virginia, and Mason and he exchange photographs before parting. General Abner Montieth, Steve’s father, and his sister Clairette are overjoyed and surprised when Steve arrives. Aunt Margie and her adopted daughter, Joan Fitzhugh, who is very fond of Steve, join the family and give Steve a warm welcome. One year later the rumble of war is heard. Steve, now a major, and his father, General, leave at the head of separate companies with the Confederate troops. The days at Monteith Manor are lonely for Clairette, and her cousin. Captain DePerrin, formerly of the French Army, comes to act as her protector. He falls madly in love with Clairette, but his attentions annoy her and she tries to evade him. Ezra Mason, now a Colonel in the command of Union forces, and Major Stillman are granted a short leave of absence. They are ambushed by a Confederate near Monteith Manor. Major Stillman is wounded and is assisted to Montieth Manor by Mason. Nelse, the Monteith slave servant, sees the “Yanks” (Mason and Stillman) coming towards the house. He calls Clairette, who shows resentment at their appearance, but when she discovers Maior Stillman is wounded she softens. Major Stillman is made comfortable and Aunt Margie is put in charge as nurse. A few days later. Mason received a message telling him Clairette’s father has died. Clairette is paralyzed with grief, and Mason, now very much in love with her, tries to console her. DePerrin is jealous of Mason’s attentions to Clairette and schemes to get him out of the way. Major Stillman recovers and proposes to Aunt Margie. She surrenders and leaves for Washington with the Major, who has been promoted to Colonel, taking Joan with them. Colonel Mason prolongs his stay at Monteith Manor. DePerrin is persistent with his attentions to Clairette and is passionately declaring his love for her when Mason enters, Clairette goes to Mason for protection and he then tells her of his love. Major Watkins, in command of the U.S. Telegraph Corps, while passing the manor, reports to Mason that all is quiet and Mason looks forward to a few more pleasant days with Clairette. Bill Bronson, now a straggler from the Confederate ranks, is caught by DePerrin taking food from the window. DePerrin questions Bronson and learns that Major Steve Monteith is in command of his troops. DePerrin is struck with an idea to get even with Mason and sends Bronson back to Steve with an anonymous note telling him that a Union officer is making the Manor his headquarters, much to the annoyance of his sister. Major Watkins and the Telegraph Corps reach their supply house and are startled by the Confederate troops who open fire. Watkins, though badly wounded, rushes off for aid. The Union forces are attacked by the Confederates while crossing a bridge and are thrown into a panic. The bridge is blown up by the enemy but the Union troops repel the attack and drive the enemy back. At the same time the supply house of the Telegraph Corps is burned by the Confederates. Major Watkins reaches Monteith Manor and reports to Colonel Mason, who orders him to telegraph the information to headquarters and save the army. Watkins, bleeding and badly wounded, climbs the telegraph pole near the Monteith home and is about to send Mason's message when the Confederate troops in charge of Steve open fire and kill him, DePerrin gives the troopers orders to shoot Mason. Bronson recognizes Mason as a friend who did him a service before the war and is very angry at DePerrin. The Confederate troops are about to kill Mason when Steve orders them to fall back. He is astonished to find Mason, and forgetting his position, clasps Mason’s hand. Mason surrenders and is placed in Libby Prison. DePerrin, officer of the day at the prison, has Mason placed in quarters known as “Rat Hell.” Bronson on guard, acts as guard for Mason in aiding his escape. Mason starts to dig a tunnel but is interrupted by DePerrin making his rounds. Clairette arrives in Richmond to effect Mason’s exchange. The Commander at the Confederate Headquarters sends DePerrin a message asking for a report on Mason. DePerrin tells Mason if he will swear never to see Miss Monteith again he will secure his release. Mason, enraged, tells DePerrin he disgraces the uniform he wears and rejects the proposition. Clairette is informed of DePerrin’s action and is about to give way in utter despair when she is struck with an idea. Bronson secures a Confederate outfit for Clairette and instructs her in the duties of prison guard. Clairette meets Bronson at the prison and takes his place. He gives her his gun and countersign “Virginia.” DePerrin, making his rounds tells “Bronson” (Clairette) to shoot any Union officer on sight who attempts to escape. Clairette salutes, and is about to collapse from fright, when the earth near her breaks and she sees Mason coming through. He is about to strike when he recognizes Clairette. They exchange coats, she gives him the signal to pass the sentry and the countersign “Virginia.” Clairette, now thoroughly frightened, sees DePerrin and guards coming. She tries to hide Mason, and DePerrin at sight of a Union officer fires. Clairette stumbles and falls at his feet. DePerrin recognizes Clairette, and, thinking he has killed her, commits suicide. The surgeon at the Confederate headquarters orders Clairette removed to her home. The war is over and Major Stillman and Aunt Margie return to Monteith Manor. Steve is astonished at the wonderful development of Joan and falls in love with her. He proposes and is accepted. They are sealing their engagement when Mason enters and interrupts them. Major Stillman and Steve greet Mason heartily and tell him he is all the medicine Clairette needs, and they plan to surprise her. Aunt Margie tells Clairette the Major has the medicine for her in the conservatory. Mason comes out from his hiding place and proves to be the tonic Clairette needed most.
Survival status: Print exists in the Library of Congress film archive (paper print collection) [35mm paper positive].
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: History: USA: American Civil War (1861-1865)
Listing updated: 15 December 2024.
References: Limbacher-Feature p. 75; Niver-Early p. 96; Spehr-American p. 1; Weaver-Twenty p. 144 : Website-IMDb.
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