The Cricket on the Hearth is a 1909 silent short film directed by D. W. Griffith.[1] It is based on the 1845 novella of the same name by Charles Dickens.[2]
| The Cricket on the Hearth | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Still from film | |
| Directed by | D. W. Griffith |
| Written by | Frank E. Woods |
| Based on | The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens |
| Produced by | American Mutoscope and Biograph Company |
| Starring | Owen Moore |
| Cinematography | Billy Bitzer Arthur Marvin |
| Distributed by | Biograph Company |
Release date |
|
Running time | 14-15 minutes (1 reel; original release length 989 feet) |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | Silent English title card |
Plot
editOpening in the home of Caleb Plummer, an old toymaker, we see his son, Edward, departing for the sea. A tender farewell to father and blind sister, Bertha, takes him to the road where he bids adieu to his sweetheart, Mary Fielding. There is then a lapse of three years and we find honest John Pereyhingle the husband of Dot. Mrs. Fielding has gotten into moderate straits and consents to the marriage of Old Tackleton, the grouch, to May. This is repugnant to May, whose heart is set on Edward. Edward returns, stopping on the way at the King George Inn where he learns of the approaching nuptials of Tackleton and May. Borrowing a disguise from a strolling Merry Andrew, he goes in the garb of an old wayfarer on John’s cart to see Dot and find out the truth. John, prompted by Tackleton, watches the pair. Not recognising Edward, John assumes he is a lover. Edward upon learning from Dot how inimical the match is to May resolves to carry her away, which he does with the assistance of Dot. They are married in the roadway just as the much perturbed Tackleton appears. John discovers what a fool he has been in doubting Dot, Tackleton realises what an unpopular grouch he has been and decides to change, while Bertha and Old Caleb are overjoyed at the return of Edward.[3]
Cast
edit- Owen Moore - Edward Plummer
- Violet Mersereau - May Fielding
- Linda Arvidson - Sister Dorothy
- Dorothy West - Sister Bertha (unconfirmed)
- David Miles - Caleb Plummer
- George Nichols - Mr. Fielding
- Anita Hendrie - Mrs. Fielding
- Herbert Prior - John Peerybingle
- Mack Sennett - Merry Andrew
- Harry Solter - Tackleton
- John R. Cumpson - Innkeeper
- Arthur V. Johnson - The Minister
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ The Cricket on the Hearth at silentera.com
- ^ The AFI Catalog of Feature Films:The Cricket on the Hearth
- ^ Moving Picture World (Jan-Jun 1909) p682
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
External links
edit- The Cricket on the Hearth at IMDb
- The Cricket on the Hearth at AllMovie
- The Cricket on the Hearth available for free download at Internet Archive
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