For Sale — A Baby
(1909) United States of America
B&W : [?] Split-reel? / [?] 600 or 620? feet
Directed by [?] Gaston Méliès?
Cast: Francis Ford
Méliès Star-Film [American] production; distributed by Gaston Méliès through Enterprise Optical Company. / Produced by Gaston Méliès. Scenario by [?] J. Carol or James Carroll? / © 3 November 1909 by Georges Méliès [J133581]. Released 3 November 1909. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
[?] Comedy-Drama?
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? In this picture a poor mother who has only recently lost her husband finds it hard to find employment sufficient to provide her children and herself with food without ever thinking of such a luxury as toys. One day one of the children, a boy of twelve takes his infant brother out in a self-constructed vehicle for a ride. On the way he meets another little friend of his and they walk together. Suddenly one of them spies a sign near a house stating, “For Sale.” He quickly removes it and reconstructs it to read “For Sale, a Baby.” and places it on the little cart. They plan to buy toys if they can find a buyer for the babe. Soon a woman passes and arranges to buy the child. The deal is made and the child is given to the woman. The boys then buy toys and are about to go home when at the thought that the babe has been sold to satisfy their own pleasure and that the mother will give them a very warm reception, they become conscious stricken and return to the woman and tell her that they want the child back. They also leave with her all the purchases which they made and are glad to get the babe even though they will have to get along without the toys. The good woman is of a sympathetic nature and besides returning the babe, she also gives them the toys which they had bought. Then she goes to the children’s home and brings necessaries for the mother.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 26 May 2024.
References: Thompson-Star pp. 11, 227 : ClasIm-226 p. 54 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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