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The Little Turncoat
(1913) United States of America
B&W : Two reels
Directed by Francis Ford
Cast: Harold Lockwood [Captain Gordon], Anna Little (Ann Little) [Violet Gordon], Leo Maloney [Colonel James, Violet’s brother], Shorty Hamilton
New York Motion Picture Company production; distributed by Mutual Film Corporation [Kay-Bee]. / Produced by Thomas H. Ince. Scenario by William H. Clifford. / Released 17 January 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Civil War.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Violet Gordon, a southern girl, has a brother, Capt. Gordon, in the Confederate army. The vicinity of his home is converted into a battle ground, which devastates everything, and the Captain risks his life to visit and comfort his sister, who, as well as himself, is mourning the death of their father, Gen. Gordon, who is shown sacrificing his life for the flag. The house is surrounded by Union soldiers under the command of Col. James, who falls in love with Violet. In searching the house Hart goes to plunge his sword in a clothes basket, in which Capt. Gordon is hiding, and Violet stops his uplifted arm, and the silent plea of her eyes moves James to say nothing of his suspicions, though she passes off her action with a light remark asking him not to spoil her best clothes. Col. James goes on, and on the eve of a big battle sends her a note saying that she must not think him a traitor, but that he did it for her sake. She understands, and answers with an acknowledgment of her gratitude. Her letter is intercepted by her brother who does not know it is addressed to the man who saved his life, and a trap is laid for the Colonel by adding a postscript asking him to call. James is captured and temporarily imprisoned in a barn. Violet determines to save him, and while her brother is asleep she dons one of his uniforms, and with her hat pulled down to shade her face, manages, that night, to secure entrance to the barn. A dramatic meeting takes place, as he accuses her of having betrayed him, but she finally makes him believe her innocence in the plot. She makes him put on her brother’s coat and hat, and he departs, passing the unsuspecting sentry. Col. James rejoins his regiment, which is plunged in battle. Capt. Gordon misses his sister and searches frantically for her, and when he finally finds her, a prisoner in the barn, and learns why she played the part of “a turncoat” he forgives her.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 30 March 2020.
References: ClasIm-224 p. 42 : Website-IMDb.
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