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A Shattered Dream
(1911) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by [?] Gaston Méliès and/or Robert Goodman?
Cast: Francis Ford
G. Méliès production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by Gaston Méliès. / Released 14 September 1911. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [From Méliès promotional materials] Father Martin had lived carefully all his days in order to save enough money to enable him to fulfill the dream of his life — a visit to his birthplace across the seas. On the eve of his departure, a parishioner came and confessed a theft, exposure of which would spell his ruin. The amount of the theft was the same a Father Martin has accumulated. The clergyman on hearing of the young man’s plight, hesitated only a moment, when, with magnanimous nobility, he gave up that which was his dearest passion, to save a soul from disgrace. More noble charity would be difficult to conceive.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 30 September 1911, page ?] Hardly could a more significant theme be found for a work of art than the theme used in this picture. With much success in some places and less in others, it shows something of the relationship that that social consciousness of which the Church has always been an exponent has with pitiably weak mortals, in the presence of the unsocial, anarchistic consciousness. The priest, Father Martin, stands for the consciousness that all men are one. The gamblers of the picture stand for the evil that preys on men. The gamblers tempted the clerk and he fell. He came to Father Martin and was saved, or we are led to believe so, at a great sacrifice. Father Martin’s characterization is fine; the player brings out the kindliness and nobility of the priest very clearly. What may be called the other side of the picture isn’t done so well. However, the picture of the priest will make the picture popular and it is highly commendable.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 23 May 2024.
References: Thompson-Star p. 230 : ClasIm-226 p. 55 : Website-IMDb.
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