|
Miss Blossom
(1916) United States of America
B&W : Two reels
Directed by Lynn F. Reynolds (Lynn Reynolds)
Cast: Alfred Allen [Colonel Wyndham Pepper], Myrtle Gonzalez [Emily Pepper], Grace Marvin [Mammy Chloe], Fred Church [Morris Prentiss], Val Paul [Shad]
The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated. / Produced by Carl Laemmle. Scenario by Lynn Reynolds (Lynn Reynolds). / Released 27 April 1916. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Colonel Wyndham Pepper, owner of Flintridge Plantation, and his granddaughter Emily live in the big house, which is made pleasant by Emily’s presence. Her cousin Morris Prentice has long admired her, but she refuses to consider him seriously. In springtime the Colonel is having some needed repairs done at Emily’s suggestion. Both are happy with the promise of the coming year, even Uncle Josh and Aunt Chloe. Prentiss is interested in racing stock, but his cruelty to horses is notorious. Uncle Josh remarks to Aunt Chloe that a man who mistreats a horse would likely mistreat a wife the same way. Prentiss again presses his suit to Emily; being refused, he declares that someday she will be glad to accept him. In the mountains lives Shad, whose father is a worthless moonshiner, and Shad is often thrown upon his own resources. Angered by his father’s actions, and particularly because his father prefers feeding his dogs rather than him, Shad leaves the old shack for the city, determined to acquire an education, Emily meets Shad on the way and, sympathizing with him, takes him to the plantation, where she furnishes him with some old clothes. For two days Shad has eaten nothing substantial, and thinking he is unseen, eats some dogs’ scraps. Colonel Pepper sees the incident and orders the old servant to give the boy a big meal. The Colonel and Emily learn Shad’s ambitions and the tender-hearted girl suggests to her grandfather that she will share part of her allowance to help him. The old man offers to double what Emily suggests. Shad is bashful about accepting, but seeing how earnest they are, thanks them, and after promising to faithfully return the loan, leaves for school. Before leaving, Shad and Prentiss have hot words over the latter’s mistreatment of a horse. Next spring, because of the low price of the prevailing crops, Flintridge has a hard time. Colonel Pepper finds it necessary to mortgage the old home. Prentiss buys the mortgage. Shad succeeds at school and stops to remind the Peppers that he hasn’t forgotten their kindness. The Peppers are giving a little entertainment and Prentiss and Emily have wandered off together. Prentiss is forcing his attentions upon the girl when Shad comes upon the scene. He comes to her rescue and although Prentiss knocks him down, Shad restrains his anger and refuses to fight. After telling the girl to remind her grandfather of his progress, Shad leaves. During his short vacation he has made more than enough money to run him through the coming term. One day he receives a letter from Colonel Pepper and Emily, enclosing $50. In order to help the boy acquire an education, the old Colonel sacrifices some of his personal possessions. The thought of the Colonel’s kindness moves Shad, whose life has been a series of kicks and fights. He returns the money as well as the amount of the original loan and addresses it to Emily. Prentiss, meanwhile, has threatened to foreclose the mortgage unless Emily marries him. Colonel Pepper leaves the matter to Emily alone. She overhears their talk and realizing what the loss would be, agrees to marry Prentiss. Thinking she is alone in the house, Emily gives way to her tears and is discovered by her grandfather, who says that rather than force her into the marriage he will lose the home. Prentiss stops at the mailbox one day and discovers a note to Emily, opens it, reads Shad’s letter, tears it up and pockets the money. He forges the signature on the check and when the check returns marked paid, Shad wonders why he receives no answer. Years later Shad becomes a successful businessman and again pays a visit to the old home of his childhood. He stops at the plantation and talks with Uncle Josh, who tells him the Colonel and his granddaughter have moved to a smaller place and that the plantation now belongs to Prentiss. He finally recognizes Shad, and becoming talkative, states that Emily had often wondered at his silence, which was not strange to the old negro, as he knew Prentiss got the mail and suspected that he would destroy any letters to Emily. Shad can restrain his dislike for Prentiss no longer, and seeing the latter nearby, accuses him of forging the check. He threatens that unless Prentiss will sell the plantation to him for a reasonable figure, he will prosecute him. Prentiss, realizing he has been discovered, agrees to sell the place to Shad, and Shad leaves to tell the Colonel and Emily of his new purchase and to suggest that they share it with him.
Survival status: The film is presumed lost.
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 17 October 2022.
References: ClasIm-223 p. 56 : Website-IMDb.
|
