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The Punishment
(1912) United States of America
B&W : Short film
Directed by D.W. Griffith
Cast: Blanche Sweet [the fruit grower’s daughter], J. Jiquel Lanoe [the father], Kate Bruce [the mother], William J. Butler [the landowner], Christy Cabanne (William Christy Cabanne) [the landowner’s son], Harry Hyde [Lucien, the sweetheart], Frank Opperman [the old gardener], Vernon Clarges, Wilfred Lucas
Biograph Company production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Scenario by George Hennessey. Cinematography by G.W. Bitzer. / Released 4 April 1912. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? The fruit grower’s pretty daughter is insulted by the landowner’s son, which insult is resented by a blow from Lucian, the girl’s sweetheart. The little family feel that this episode will cause their eviction, as the son is the ideal of his widowed father. The son reports the incident to his father and seeks vengeance, both going to the fruit-grower’s cabin, but upon arriving there the father is deeply impressed by the girl, and later sends a letter, offering to marry her and give her parents full title to the grove, stipulating that the helper, her sweetheart, must go. Shortly after the marriage, the son, watching for a chance for vengeance, hides in a chest in her room in order to surprise her and Lucian, the latter having come to return her rosary, which he had found. The girl leaves the room for a moment and walks into her husband. Lucian, seeing him, escapes by the window. The husband brings her back into the room, and she, not knowing of Lucian’s escape, is very agitated, arousing her husband’s suspicions. He sees the chest lid move, and thinking she has her lover concealed, springs the lock and gives them both an hour to live. The landowner learns too late that in his efforts for vengeance he has caused the death of his own son.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 28 January 2025.
References: Barry-Griffith p. 43; Drew-Speaking p. 285; Spehr-American p. 3 : Website-IMDb.
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