Ralph Ince

Ralph Ince

Born: January 14, 1887
Died: April 10, 1937
in Boston, Massachusetts, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ralph Ince (January 16, 1887 – April 10, 1937) was an American pioneer film actor, director and screenwriter whose career began near the dawn of the silent film era. Ralph Ince was the brother of John Ince and Thomas H. Ince. Ralph Waldo Ince was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the younger of three sons and a daughter raised by English immigrants, John and Emma Ince. Sometime after his birth Ince moved to Manhattan where his entire family was engaged in theater work; his father as a musical agent and mother, sister Bertha and brothers, John and Thomas as actors. Ralph Ince studied art with cartoonist Dan McCarthy and for a while worked as a newspaper cartoonist for the New York World and later magazine illustrator for the New York Mirror and The Evening Telegram. At times over his acting and directing career Ince would continue to contribute cartoons to popular magazines of the day. Early on in his career Ince, who had done some stage acting as a child, was a member of Richard Mansfield's stock company playing parts in The College Widow and Ben Hur.

Around 1906 Ince became an animator in the fledgling film industry working for Winsor McCay, but soon turned to acting and joined Vitagraph Studios where he became known for his portrayals of Abraham Lincoln in a series of one reel films. Ince began directing at Vitagraph around 1910 and was officially advanced to the director’s chair in 1912, though he still continued to act in many of his films and throughout his career. Ince would go on to direct some 171 films between 1910 and 1937 and appear in approximately 110 films over nearly the same time period.

Movies for Ralph Ince...

Rolling Home
Title: Rolling Home
Character: Wally
Released: December 9, 1935
Type: Movie
A sacked engineer stows away on another vessel
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Blue Smoke
Title: Blue Smoke
Character: Al Dempson
Released: December 1, 1935
Type: Movie
British sports film directed by Ralph Ince.
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So You Won't Talk
Title: So You Won't Talk
Character: Ralph Younger
Released: March 1, 1935
Type: Movie
The owner of a small Italian restaurant in central London is left a million pound inheritance, the only stipulation to the will being that he cannot speak or write anything for a period of one month.
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Love at Second Sight
Title: Love at Second Sight
Released: September 1, 1934
Type: Movie
It is love at first sight between Juliet and Allan as they catch sight of each other on passing trains. Allan has his song-writing friend Bill to write a song of the incident and he has it broadcast. Juliet, through the hints provided in the song, responds and comes to Allan's home, where he is working on a safety-match invention.
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Havana Widows
Title: Havana Widows
Character: G.W. 'Butch' O'Neill
Released: November 18, 1933
Type: Movie
Two golddiggers go fishing for millionaires in Havana.
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Men Of America
Title: Men Of America
Character: Cicero
Released: November 25, 1932
Type: Movie
Bank robbers and killers cause mayhem in a small western town.
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Malay Nights
Title: Malay Nights
Character: Jack Sheldon
Released: November 3, 1932
Type: Movie
The owner of a pearl bed falls in love with a bitter young girl who had been taken advantage of by an unscrupulous ex-boyfriend.
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The Pride of the Legion
Title: The Pride of the Legion
Character: Klafki
Released: October 17, 1932
Type: Movie
After suffering a traumatic injury, a policeman resigns from the force and, after he's saved from a suicide attempt, goes to work at a café frequented by gangsters.
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Guilty as Hell
Title: Guilty as Hell
Character: Jack Reed
Released: August 5, 1932
Type: Movie
Richard Arlen is the convicted murderer and Adrienne Ames his sister who believes in his innocence. We see the murder and the framing set-up at the beginning of the film, so there’s no mystery for the audience to solve. Just the pleasure of watching an intricate cat-and-mouse game, with the murderer one step ahead of his pursuers until the final, tense confrontation.
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Gorilla Ship
Title: Gorilla Ship
Character: Capt. 'Gorilla' Larsen
Released: July 19, 1932
Type: Movie
Philip Wells and his wife Helen argue a lot about the attention that Philip thinks Helen and his best friend, Dave Burton, are giving each other, but they all sail off together on Philips yacht, until "Gorilla"Larsen and his motley crew show up, scuttle the yacht, and marital-strife is no longer the issue of the day.
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The Tenderfoot
Title: The Tenderfoot
Character: Dolan
Released: May 23, 1932
Type: Movie
Calvin Jones is a cowboy who wants to invest in a Broadway play. Joe Lehman's secretary Ruth learns that her boss is attempting to swindle Jones and pulls a successful coup d'etat producing a play that she stars in.
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State's Attorney
Title: State's Attorney
Character: Second Trial Defense Attorney
Released: May 20, 1932
Type: Movie
Corrupt alcoholic attorney Tom Cardigan is one of the best lawyers around, commanding the courtroom like a stage and often winning his cases. Mobster Valentine Powers, who employs Cardigan and put him through school, asks him to represent a woman, June Perry, accused of prostitution. Cardigan agrees. But he never expected to fall for her, which is problematic since he's angling to become governor and will need the right kind of wife.
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Extra! Extra!
Title: Extra! Extra!
Released: April 4, 1932
Type: Movie
Frank McHugh appears with Mae Busch, Jerry Mandy and others in this prohibition-time RKO Pathe short directed by Harry Sweet.
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The County Fair
Title: The County Fair
Character: Diamond Barnett
Released: March 31, 1932
Type: Movie
A Kentucky horse owner hires an ex-jockey, who is now working as a waiter, to train his thoroughbred race horse for an upcoming race. However, a gambling ring that doesn't want the horse entering the race has other plans.
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The Mouthpiece
Title: The Mouthpiece
Character: J.B. Roscoe
Released: March 21, 1932
Type: Movie
A prosecutor quits his job and becomes a defense attorney when he finds out that a man he got convicted and executed was actually innocent.
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The Lost Squadron
Title: The Lost Squadron
Character: Jettick
Released: March 12, 1932
Type: Movie
When World War I comes to an end, three pilots find themselves on hard times. They wind up in Hollywood, where they work as stunt fliers for a sadistic director.
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Law and Order
Title: Law and Order
Character: Poe Northrup
Released: February 9, 1932
Type: Movie
A legendary lawman and his cohorts set out to restore order to the dangerous streets of Tombstone, Ariz.
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Running Hollywood
Title: Running Hollywood
Character: Scratchface Henchman
Released: January 27, 1932
Type: Movie
Running Hollywood is a comedy short.
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Girl of the Rio
Title: Girl of the Rio
Character: O'Grady
Released: January 15, 1932
Type: Movie
A café dancer bluffs a Mexican landowner to save her lover.
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The Big Shot
Title: The Big Shot
Character: Butch
Released: December 31, 1931
Type: Movie
A young man runs into trouble when he buys an auto court, only to find out that its located next to a swamp that drives away all potential customers.
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Men of Chance
Title: Men of Chance
Character: Farley
Released: December 26, 1931
Type: Movie
A gambler falls for a fake countess.
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Law of the Sea
Title: Law of the Sea
Character: Marty Drake
Released: December 15, 1931
Type: Movie
A sadistic, evil ship captain lusts after a beautiful young girl he spots in town. It turns out that she's the girlfriend of a young man whose father the captain had blinded and cast adrift on the ocean many years before.
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The Big Gamble
Title: The Big Gamble
Character: Webb
Released: September 4, 1931
Type: Movie
A gambler, hopelessly in debt, agrees to pay off his debt by allowing his creditor to take out a life insurance policy on him and collecting once the one-year suicide clause has elapsed.
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The Star Witness
Title: The Star Witness
Character: "Maxey" Campo
Released: August 22, 1931
Type: Movie
A tough District Attorney goes after a murderous crime gang, only to find that his witnesses, an innocent family, have clammed up in fear of reprisals.
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Hell Bound
Title: Hell Bound
Character: Dorgan
Released: May 1, 1931
Type: Movie
Lane and Diane are a young married couple living in a coastal town whose lives are about to be torn apart by an old book of magic.
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Gentleman's Fate
Title: Gentleman's Fate
Character: Dante
Released: March 7, 1931
Type: Movie
A bootlegger falls apart when his wife leaves him.
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Little Caesar
Title: Little Caesar
Character: Pete Montana
Released: January 25, 1931
Type: Movie
A small-time hood shoots his way to the top, but how long can he stay there?
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Numbered Men
Title: Numbered Men
Character: 33410
Released: June 7, 1930
Type: Movie
Prison drama from 1930. Mary Dane and falsely imprisoned Bud Leonard love each other, but Lou Rinaldo, who framed Bud to get Mary, and escape-minded King Callahan, set events in motion to prove that love and justice will prevail.
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The Big Fight
Title: The Big Fight
Character: Chuck
Released: May 11, 1930
Type: Movie
Based on the David Belasco stage production of the Max Marcin play in which heavyweight-champion Jack Dempsey played the role of the fighter, Tiger: This "behind-the-scenes look of a heavyweight-championship fight" looks much like all of the other boxing films in which the Champ gets involved in a frame-up and is asked to take a dive.
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Wall Street
Title: Wall Street
Character: Roller McCray
Released: December 1, 1929
Type: Movie
A very topical early talkie from low-budget company Columbia Pictures, Wall Street starred Ralph Ince, brother of producer Thomas H. Ince, as Roller McCray, a steelworker turned ruthless tycoon whose tough business methods leads a rival (Philip Strange) to commit suicide. The widow (Aileen Pringle), believing she can ruin Ince by using his own methods, conspires with her husband's former partner (Sam De Grasse), but a strong friendship between Ince and Pringle's young son (Freddie Burke Frederick) changes things dramatically. According to future Three Stooges director Edward Bernds, who worked as a sound mixer on Wall Street, Ince's reaction to his rival's suicidal jump from a window ledge was changed from a sneering "I didn't think he had the guts" to the more respectful "I didn't think he'd do it" due to derisive laughter from the film's crew.
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Chicago After Midnight
Title: Chicago After Midnight
Character: Jim Boyd
Released: March 4, 1928
Type: Movie
Chicago After Midnight (1928)
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The Sea Wolf
Title: The Sea Wolf
Character: 'Wolf' Larsen
Released: July 26, 1926
Type: Movie
Captain "Wolf" Larsen, the absolute master of a seal schooner, is a mystic and philosopher, though he rules his men with an iron hand. On a ferry going from San Francisco to Oakland, Van Weyden, a critic, and Maud Brewster, a novelist, meet in masquerade costumes and are forced overboard when their boat collides with a steamer. Humphrey, then Maud, are picked up by Larsen's crew. Because of her costume, Maud is taken for a boy and placed in the custody of Mugridge, the cook, who attempts to attack her upon discovering her identity. Larsen takes her under his protection and decides to marry her; but as the ceremony begins, the crew mutinies, and Larsen is stricken with blindness as he faces the rebels. The ship is set afire, and though Humphrey and Maud are rescued by another steamer, Larsen, deserted by his crew, refuses to quit his ship and is enveloped in flames.
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Yellow Fingers
Title: Yellow Fingers
Character: Brute Shane
Released: March 21, 1926
Type: Movie
Ralph Ince stars as Brute Shane, a South Pacific trader who has adopted native girl Saina (Olive Broden). When Shane rescues English lass Nona Deering (Claire Adams) from white slavers, the jealous Saina begins plotting Nona's demise.
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Channing of the Northwest
Title: Channing of the Northwest
Released: April 10, 1922
Type: Movie
A foppish Londoner joins the Royal Canadian Mounties and tries to break a smuggling ring.
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The Last Door
Title: The Last Door
Released: May 10, 1921
Type: Movie
The Last Door (1921)
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The Highest Law
Title: The Highest Law
Character: Abraham Lincoln
Released: February 5, 1921
Type: Movie
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Out of the Snows
Title: Out of the Snows
Character: Robert Holliday
Released: August 23, 1920
Type: Movie
Robert Holliday, a member of the North West Mounted Police, is betrothed to Ruth Hardy, an orphaned seminary student. On the eve of her marriage, Ruth learns from John Blakeman that he and her father had been partners in the fur smuggling business until Hardy was killed by Robert during a shootout. Shaken by this revelation, Ruth sends Robert a goodbye note and leaves with Blakeman for a trading post at Sampson's Pass.
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The Swan Girl
Title: The Swan Girl
Released: December 4, 1913
Type: Movie
A wealthy young fellow during vacation becomes infatuated with a poor country girl.
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Song Bird of the North
Title: Song Bird of the North
Character: President Lincoln
Released: July 2, 1913
Type: Movie
Haywood, a suitor for the hand of Elida Rumsey, is severely reprimanded by her for not enlisting when President Lincoln calls for volunteers. Being deeply interested in the cause, Elida goes and helps Mrs. Pomeroy minister to sick and wounded soldiers. She becomes a favorite with the men, for she frequently sings to them. This attracts the attention of Lincoln
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A Regiment of Two
Title: A Regiment of Two
Character: Dudley
Released: June 11, 1913
Type: Movie
Ira and his son-in-law Harry pretend to enlist in the 13th regiment where they have "drills" every Friday night. When the 13th is called to the front, the two take a fishing trip, only to learn that "their" regiment has been wiped out.
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The Higher Mercy
Title: The Higher Mercy
Character: Abraham Lincoln
Released: September 10, 1912
Type: Movie
No matter how absorbed with affairs of state, Abraham Lincoln was always ready to give audience to his little son Tad. Little Tad, playing at the boat landing of the White House lake, falls into the water and is saved from drowning by a young fellow named Jasper Brinton. When young Brinton carries Tad into the White House, the president is very grateful to him and says if there is anything that he can do for him at any time he will be glad to do it. Young Brinton's mother is an enthusiastic supporter of the Federal cause, and when the war breaks out, she urges her son to join the Union army. He has an inherent dread of danger and naturally hesitates. He finally enlists. On the battlefield his natural fear takes possession of him.
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The Bond of Music
Title: The Bond of Music
Character: A German General
Released: August 30, 1912
Type: Movie
Short anti-war film in which a French musician turns out to be a German spy.
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The Heart of Esmeralda
Title: The Heart of Esmeralda
Character: Ben Holt
Released: August 13, 1912
Type: Movie
Esmeralda Foster, an attractive girl, is very much impressed with Duncan Miller, a crafty country swain, who makes love to Esmeralda because of her father's wealth.
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The Money Kings
Title: The Money Kings
Character: The Aviator
Released: July 15, 1912
Type: Movie
The Money Kings is a 1912 silent short film.
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Yellow Bird
Title: Yellow Bird
Character: The Hunter
Released: June 12, 1912
Type: Movie
Disregarding the sanctity of "Song Bird's" feelings, John Strong, a young surveyor in the pioneer forests of the west, makes love to the Indian maiden whenever he chances to meet her, until she longs and looks for his coming and going, and finds that he has made himself part of her life.
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Love in the Ghetto
Title: Love in the Ghetto
Character: Barish - the Father
Released: May 13, 1912
Type: Movie
Everybody's ordered out on a strike when Benjamin Cohen, proprietor of a sweat-shop, reduces the employees' wages ten per cent. Rebecca Barish, a young Jewess, and her father, reluctantly go out with the rest. Unable to find other work, their circumstances become so reduced that Rebecca is obliged to go to the pawnshop with some of their belongings, and while there, Jacob Stattler, the pawnbroker, takes a fancy to her, and offers her father, through a schatehen, five hundred dollars to give her to him in manage.
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The Serpents
Title: The Serpents
Character: Eric
Released: May 8, 1912
Type: Movie
Wending their way and locating in a land far from the contentions through which they passed a few weeks before, Eric and Chloe are located in a garden spot of primeval beauty, surrounded by all the imposing grandeur of nature. Chloe is pursued by the covetous desire of Haakon, a false friend, who strives by subtle charms to lure her from Eric, who in turn is tempted by Linda, her cunning and beauty, to desert Chloe and live with her.
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The Cave Man
Title: The Cave Man
Character: Eric
Released: April 15, 1912
Type: Movie
After her father dies, Chloe, played by Edith Storey, is left alone in the world. She is discovered and taken home to their cave by brothers Dagban and Eric, who vie for her affection in an allegory about “brain vs. brawn.” When “Dagban threatens to do her bodily harm unless she accedes to his intentions” Eric beats up his brother to protect Chloe, and then subsequently leaves the cave he calls home to avoid further conflict. By this point, he has won Chloe’s affection with his kindness and love, and she decides to follow him and “together they continue their journey, seeking happiness in the land beyond the horizon, which joins earth with heaven.”
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The Seventh Son
Title: The Seventh Son
Character: Abraham Lincoln
Released: April 3, 1912
Type: Movie
At the outbreak of the Civil War in the United States, the six sons of widow Beecham enlist. The seventh son is very anxious to join the army and fight for his country, but his brothers insist upon his remaining home with his mother.
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The Freshet
Title: The Freshet
Character: Tom Ennis - the Young Blacksmith
Released: November 28, 1911
Type: Movie
Tom Ennis, a stalwart, sturdy fellow, is apprenticed to John Matthews, the village blacksmith, whose daughter is a likable girl. Tom falls in love with her, but her father opposes him and Meg marries one who is her father's choice.
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One Flag at Last
Title: One Flag at Last
Character: Abraham Lincoln
Released: September 18, 1911
Type: Movie
A Southern girl helps an escaped Union soldier in the midst of the Civil War.
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The Child Crusoes
Title: The Child Crusoes
Released: September 13, 1911
Type: Movie
Jack, a little orphan, is anxious to become a sailor, and although Captain Rhines refuses to take him aboard his ship, manages to sneak in as a stowaway. When out to sea a few days, he is discovered, and is about to be disciplined, when the captain's daughter, May, intercedes. A terrific storm strikes them, and the ship is dashed to pieces. The captain, with the assistance of Jack, builds a little raft, and with little May, they set out for an island which they can hardly discern, as it is so many miles away. After drifting for many hours, they at last reach the island, which is inhabited by a savage tribe.
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How Betty Won the School
Title: How Betty Won the School
Character: The Burglar
Released: August 22, 1911
Type: Movie
Betty Carlton, a pretty girl, is sent to a girls' seminary. She is welcomed by all, and everything goes along merrily until one day, when they try to initiate Betty into one of their societies by blindfolding her and dropping cold, wet macaroni through her fingers. It feels so much like snakes that she dashes from the room. From now on she is ostracized. She decides to leave. While packing her trunk. She discovers a burglar climbing into a room where the other girls are having a "feed," to which she has not been invited. All the girls scream and run away. Betty, trusting to her lariat, enters the room, captures the burglar, and is thereby made a friend of all.
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Troublesome Secretaries, or How Betty Outwitted Her Father
Title: Troublesome Secretaries, or How Betty Outwitted Her Father
Character: Ralph - The Successful Suitor
Released: August 20, 1911
Type: Movie
This is basically a two practical-joke comedy. Bunny is a businessman father and Mabel plays Betty, his lovable daughter. The first practical joke is Betty getting her girlfriend to be daddy's secretary. The secretary sprays perfume on all his papers and tries to make out with him. The second practical joke has Betty getting her boyfriend to put on a wig and old man's outfit and apply for the job of daddy's secretary.
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The Lure of Vanity
Title: The Lure of Vanity
Released: July 18, 1911
Type: Movie
Miss Edna White is very much grieved when she has not a suitable gown to wear at a party. Mrs. Donald, a wealthy customer, calls and asks Edna to try the dress on she has bought for her inspection. It answers her purposes, and Edna is instructed to deliver the dress that night, on her way home.
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The Geranium
Title: The Geranium
Released: July 15, 1911
Type: Movie
One glance at the poor and disordered home of the Tunisons shows us there is something still lacking. Mrs. Tunison is obliged to provide for her crippled daughter Ethel, her son, who does what he can to help her and her older daughter, who aids in every way possible. Daniel Briton, a young peddler, notices Ethel as he passes by, and gives her one of his wares, a geranium, for which she is very thankful. On successive days as the young peddler passes she waves her hand to him. One day he brings with him a doctor, who takes her to the hospital where she will get good care and attention. After a few weeks, Ethel is carried home in the arms of her generous friend, entirely restored to health. Everybody is made happy, and more so with Daniel, who marries one of Ethel's sisters.
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The Battle Hymn of the Republic
Title: The Battle Hymn of the Republic
Character: Abraham Lincoln
Released: June 30, 1911
Type: Movie
This patriotic and historic picture portrays the writing of the famous national hymn by Mrs. Julia Ward Howe. In the early part of the Civil War President Lincoln was very much discouraged at the lack of enthusiasm and the tardiness with which the people answered the call for volunteers to join the army.
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A Tale of Two Cities
Title: A Tale of Two Cities
Released: February 20, 1911
Type: Movie
A condensed silent film version of the Charles Dickens classic about the French Revolution and its subsequent Reign of Terror.
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Jean the Match-Maker
Title: Jean the Match-Maker
Released: September 19, 1910
Type: Movie
Bent on having a summer’s vacation, two working girls hire a tent and pitch their camp on the shore of a beautiful lake. As fate would have it, two farmer lads, living with their widowed mother and their pet border collie Jean, unexpectedly come onto the tent of the girls.
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The Land of Opportunity
Title: The Land of Opportunity
Character: Abraham Lincoln
Released: December 31, 1969
Type: Movie
Silent dramatic short that looks at how America can be a land of opportunity for even the lowest laborer by looking at Abraham Lincoln's life.