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The Man Who Learned
(1910) United States of America
B&W : One reel / 990 feet
Directed by Ashley Miller
Cast: (unknown)
Edison Manufacturing Company production in cooperation with the New York Milk Committee; distributed by Edison Manufacturing Company. / Cinematography by Carl Gregory. / © 2 September 1910 by [?] Thomas A. Edison or Edison Manufacturing Company? [J145147, J145148, J145149, J145150]. Released 2 September 1910. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? The first scene shows the milking of the cows in the old, careless way, the milkers with unwashed hands and the cows just as they come from the pastures. Even the pails, beyond the casual scalding or washing out, are not in very perfect condition. A young man, the son-in-law of the proprietor of the old fashioned dairy goods farm, protests against conditions and against the poor pasturage the cows have. His father-in-law rather objects to the criticism of methods which have the sanction of precedent. He has carried on the business for thirty years in the same way and sees no sense in the new-fangled ideas. The quarrel grows in the kitchen of the farm house where an untidy maid is using dirty towels to wipe the cans, and finally reaches a climax when the younger man points out the shipping of the milk in an open wagon in the broiling sun without ice or protection. The father-in-law invites him to stop his criticism or leave the old farm. The young man accepts the latter invitation, and taking with him his young wife and baby, the latter the idol of the old man’s heart, he goes away. The old man is obstinate even in the face of this separation. City conditions and living do not agree with the little grandson and in a short time the child falls ill. The doctor is called in and rather shakes his head at the child’s condition. Then we see the young mother on the street. She notices a sign which reads, “Old-Fashioned Dairy Goods.” It recalls the old farm and the milk, and she thinks that possibly some would be good for the sick baby. She gets a pail from the storekeeper, and he ladles out from the open can some of the milk which she takes back to the little apartment. It doesn’t seem any too clean being ladled out in this way, so she strains it and then feeling sure that it is all right gives it to the child. And then the next scene shows us that the little one’s condition is critical. The doctor, after asking what food has been given the child, makes a brief test and discovers that the milk is lacking in quality and not sanitary, and is probably responsible for the child’s serious condition. News of the child’s illness then reaches the farm, and the old man, fairly beside himself with anxiety, forgets his quarrel, and packing up his things hurries off to the city. Arriving there he pushes past the anxious father, kisses the mother and bends over the bed of the little grandson. Then he demands of the doctor the cause of the child’s illness. The doctor tells him it is the milk. The grandfather turns angrily upon the father with a demand to know why such milk was given the child. Of course, there is only one answer; the milk came from the old man’s own farm and is a result of his unsanitary methods. The child’s illness is directly traceable to his own obstinacy and carelessness and his unwillingness to learn modern ways. And then, at the hour of the crisis when the child must either live or pass away, the old man realizes his fault, and he kneels in thankfulness when the child’s life is finally spared. He returns to the old farm, and a little later the convalescent baby gets a characteristic note from “grandpa,” inviting him to come and bring his father and mother with him to see some new things at the farm. The father refuses to go, but the mother takes the baby and we next see them back in the old kitchen, which is now clean and kept by a tidy maid, the slovenly one having transformed herself. Then follow successive scenes about the farm in which the cows have beautiful new pastures of picturesque value, rich in tall grass and running brooks. And in the dairy the milking is all done by white-suited men, whose hands have been carefully inspected, and the cows are sprayed, cleaned with vacuum cleaners, brushed and washed before the milking. The milk is never handled at all, but after being poured into the cans is sent on a trolley across to the strainer. From there it goes to the cooling machine and is bottled by another ingenious machine, which puts the caps on without the touch of a human hand. Even the bottles are cleaned and sterilized by machinery. Everything is white and clean and sanitary, and, as the mother writes, even the little grandson approves of the changes. The picture ends with the coming of the young man, the baby’s father, and with his recognition that the old man’s apology has taken the best possible form. A reunited family brings the story to a close and shows us a healthy baby and a happy outcome of all the trials and troubles.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 11 December 2024.
References: Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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