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Ashes of Hope
(1914) United States of America
B&W : Two reels
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: Francis X. Bushman [Fred Willard], Ruth Stonehouse [Zalata], E.H. Calvert [Charles Donald, an unknown admirer], Bryant Washburn [Ray Norton], Rapley Holmes [the judge], Thomas Commerford [Charles Donald], Helen Dunbar [Dick’s mother]
Essanay Film Manufacturing Company production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Released 15 May 1914. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Through the untiring efforts of Fred Willard, a theatrical manager, Zalata, a dancer, has become a huge success. Charles Donald, an attorney, and a man who will gain his end at any cost or by any means, becomes infatuated with Zalata, and tries in every way possible to meet her. He bribes the stage doorman, who takes his card to Zalata, with a request that the attorney would like to see her, but she refuses. Willard introduces Zalata to Roy Norton, a dramatic critic. Norton compliments Zaiata on her performance, which is very gratifying, as he is the only critic who had not given her a splendid write-up. Donald, in the shadow of the building, sees Norton leave the theater, and he determines to meet Zalata through the critic. The dancer refuses to meet Donald at first, but under Norton’s threat, finally consents. After the evening performance, Zalata meets Donald at a fashionable restaurant; Norton leaves the two together. Donald makes advances to her and she repulses him, slapping his face. The guests are on their feet in an instant and Zalata dashes madly from the place. She becomes lost and, finally exhausted, sinks to the ground. An early morning pedestrian finds her and carries her into a nearby convent, where she is cared for tenderly by the Sisters of Charity. Three days later Zalata leaves and takes with her a note from the nuns to the effect that she has been under their care for the past three days. Willard had entered the restaurant with some friends, in time to see Zalata slap the attorney and vanish. He thinks she has been false to him and when the dancer returns to her boarding house three days later, he refuses to have anything to do with her. The landlady ejects her, complaining that she does not care for girls of her character. Zalata is cross-examined and is unable to prove her whereabouts the past three days on account of losing the note the Sisters had given her. They refuse to go out of their way to call the convent by ’phone. Some time later we see her in another part of the city, living down her sorrow, making brighter the lives of little children. They worship their pretty teacher, who is so kind to them. One day, one of the little boys is very naughty, and is distracting the other children’s attention from their work. The teacher sends one of her pupils out for a whip to frighten the boy. At the thought of a whipping, the child drops dead. Zalata is accused of murder and things look terribly dark for the poor friendless girl. Donald, now a district attorney, is called in for the summing up. He demands a conviction, although the evidence brings out the fact that the child suffered from a heart affliction, and that death was natural. Zalata recognizes her accuser, the man who is the cause of all her suffering. She had slapped his face once and promised to do it again, and so she does in the crowded courtroom. She openly denounces him, tells her story, blaming him for her present predicament. The jury acquits her. Fred tries to atone for his suspicions, but Zalata, now hardened to the ways of mankind, enters a convent.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 29 December 2024.
References: Tarbox-Lost p. 74 : Website-IMDb.
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