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Across the Continent
Also known as Alkoholismens förbannelse in Sweden
(1913) United States of America
B&W : Four reels
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: Herbert Barrington [George Constance], Herbert Barry [John Adderly Jr.], Wilbur Hudson [John Adderly], Mrs. Guy Standing [Agnes Constance], W.H. Burton [Caesar], Octave Luzon [Tom Constance], Marion Cooper [?] (Miriam Cooper)? [Louise Constance], A.E. Elliott [Mr. Goodwin], Ann Rodgers [Clara Goodwin]
Pilot Films Corporation production; distributed on State Rights basis by Film Supply Company of America. / From the play Across the Continent by Dion Boucicault and Oliver Doud Byron. / Released November 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Crime.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? John Adderly, a prosperous saloon keeper, prevails upon George Constance to drink. Soon George becomes a confirmed drunkard. His wife, Agnes, parts with everything, even her wedding ring, for food. She goes to Adderly and pleads for bread for her children, Tom and Louise, but is refused. Adderly asks her to drink a toast to his son, John Jr. Raising her glass Agnes gives this toast: “May your unholy wealth drop from your hand as the poison from this glass. May your child live to turn you out to starve. May you curse him as I now curse you, because of my children starving through your greed.” Infuriated, the saloon keeper kicks her out. She tries to reach her house, but falls exhausted in the snow. Goodwin comes across her body, and with the aid of a policeman, takes her to her home. George, in a drunken stupor, is asleep on an old mattress on the floor. Agnes tells Goodwin the story of her life. Goodwin promises to care for her little ones. Happy in the knowledge that Tom and Louise will be cared for, Agnes falls back dead. Goodwin takes the children to his home. George wakes and is horrified at finding his wife dead. Madly he rushes from the room, knocking over the lighted candle, which sets fire to the house. In his tremens George falls from a high bridge to the raging waters below. The fire rages and spreads to the next house, Adderly’s. Adderly and his son are rescued from the flames, but Adderly’s eyes are injured. Twenty years later, Adderly, now retired from business, is becoming blind. He is very proud of his son, who, however, does not respect his father. He becomes friendly with two crooks, Jim Grogan and Bill Morgan. Joe Ferris, a wanderer, detects John, Jr., cheating at cards, and exposes him, thereby winning his lasting hatred. Joe falls in love with Louise, now a beautiful young woman. Realizing how impossible his suit is, he decides to reform. By a clever scheme of John. Jr. and his pals, Joe is arrested for theft, convicted and sentenced to three years in prison. Adderly, becoming totally blind, is persuaded to turn his money over to his son. John, Jr. then casts his father off, and the old man is reduced to beggary. In a fight over a dancing girl a stranger is stabbed by Giovanni, the saloon keeper. Johnnie falls in love with Dolores, the dancing girl. Giovanni and his brother, Pablo, do not approve of the match, but are afraid if they interfere Dolores will tell of the murder. Tom becomes engaged to Goodwin’s daughter. John, Jr., by investing his father's ill-gotten wealth, becomes a very rich man, and changes his name to Allerton. Allerton meets the Goodwin family, and becomes infatuated with Louise, who does not return his affection. He persuades Tom to gamble. Tom loses heavily and forges his father’s name to pay Allerton, who then threatens Tom with exposure unless he help Allerton to win Louise. Joe escapes from prison, and is sheltered by Dolores and Johnnie. Giovanni attacks Joe in the flat, but is prevented from injuring him by Johnnie. Tom is rescued from footpads by Johnnie, who takes him to his home. Joe is delighted to meet Louise, but the stigma of prison prevents him from asking her to marry him, although she loves him. Bill, dying, makes a confession of how they conspired to send Joe to jail. Tom and Joe trail Allerton to Giovanni’s saloon. Giovanni and Allerton see them coming and put out the lights. Pablo enters the saloon first, and is stabbed by his brother, who thinks it is Tom or Joe. Pablo, in a dying rage, discloses his brother’s crime. Both Giovanni and Allerton are sent to jail. By a clever ruse Allerton escapes. Meeting his father he forces him to exchange clothes, and then, cursing his son, the old man dies. Goodwin obtains a position for Joe and Johnnie in the west. Joe goes, telling Louise when he has made good he will come back for her. Louise becomes heartsick, and Goodwin takes her and his old colored servant, Caesar, to visit Joe and Johnnie. She is captured by Allerton and is saved from the enraged man by Caesar, who is compelled to shoot Allerton. The shot destroys Allerton’s sight. Joe and Louise, and Tom and Clara are wed.
Synopsis: Synopsis available in AFI-F1 n. F1.0013.
Survival status: The film is presumed lost.
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Alcoholism - Blindness - Crime: Abductions, Frame-ups, Theft - Good Samaritans - Saloonkeepers - Workers: Butlers
Listing updated: 10 April 2020.
References: AFI-F1 n. F1.0013; Tarbox-Lost p. 144 : Website-IMDb.
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