|
Peter’s Pledge
(1913) United States of America
B&W : Short film
Directed by Barry O’Neil
Cast: Peter Lang [Peter Lang], Mrs. George W. Walters [Sally Nelson]
Lubin Manufacturing Company production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by Siegmund Lubin. Scenario by Lawrence McCloskey. / Released 14 January 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Comedy.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Peter Lang, a retired army veteran, receives a pension which is just enough to enable him to live comfortably in a cozy flat and to keep a Chinese man servant. In his younger days Peter had been a wild one, but now, being paralyzed from his knees down, is confined to a chair built especially to accommodate his mountainous anatomy, Peter weighing over 300 lbs. To the arm of this chair is fastened his old cavalry saber. His life is not dull, however, for almost every day he has as guests a half dozen old veterans like himself. At their rallies the bottle flows freely and their numerous toasts to the “old days” often go to their heads. Peter’s cousin, Moriah Lang, is desirous of reforming Peter, so when she dies, rather than leave him her fortune of $20,000 to drink himself to death with, she alms to kill two birds with one stone by leaving the money to Sally Nelson, an old maid friend, with the proviso that she marry Peter and share the fortune with him, her idea being that married to a good woman, Peter would forsake his evil ways and sober up. Peter consents to marry Sally, thinking that after he has connected with the $20,000 he can relegate her to household work. After their wedding, the lawyers discover a later will providing that Peter must also sign the pledge against liquor, before the money is turned over. Peter is in a fix. He is married but refuses to sign the pledge. Sally forbids liquor to enter the house. Peter’s old friends try to smuggle it in but Sally is too sharp for them. Peter, however, finally succeeds in securing a bottle of good rye. He has a week’s thirst and goes at the whiskey accordingly. Sally’s attempts to get the bottle away are met by Peter’s flourishing sword and she is forced to retreat. When Peter recovers from his “souse” he finds himself out on the fire escape where Sally, through the door, informs him he must stay until he signs the pledge. Peter sticks it out all night with crowds in the street watching the game, but in the cold, gray dawn it begins to rain and Peter signs the pledge.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 15 October 2023.
References: Lahue-World p. 33 : Website-IMDb.
|
