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The Message of the Sun Dial
(1914) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by Richard Ridgely
Cast: Mabel Trunnelle [Jane Vernon], Herbert Prior [Ensign Gridley Thurston], Elsie McLeod (Elsie MacLeod) [Martha Dupont], Richard Tucker [David Thornton], Mrs. C.J. Williams (Ida Williams) [Mrs. Vernon], Harry Gripp
Thomas A. Edison, Incorporated, production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Released 20 January 1914. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? When Mrs. Vernon bought a fine old estate in the South, Jane, her daughter, was delighted for several reasons. For one thing, the beautiful old white house set among heavily shaded lawns, appealed strongly to her youthful imagination. For another, the destroyer flotilla was stationed near at hand. The “Fosdyke” was the flagship of the flotilla and on the “Fosdyke” was a certain Ensign Gridley Thurston. From this it may be gathered that Ensign Gridley Thurston was a person of some importance to Miss Jane Vernon. This was perfectly true, but Miss Jane Vernon was quite careful not to let Thurston know it. He called on her very often. She was a person of very considerable importance to him and he did not waste any opportunities to tell her so. Then one day they had a quarrel. It was a ridiculous little quarrel, but as neither of them would give in, soon assumed a portentous character. Thurston remarked that the “Fosdyke” was going to sea soon and that he would be glad to get out on the nice, quiet ocean again. Jane said she was very glad he was going. Then he went and she wept. She chose a certain moss-covered old sun dial to weep upon. As she leaned on it she noticed that it was a little unsteady. Investigating, she discovered a book beneath it. The book was the diary of Martha Dupont. Martha had lived on the old estate during the Civil War. She had been devoutly loved by David Thornton. They had quarreled. David went off to the war and never came back, and Martha died of a broken heart. All this. Jane read between the lines of quaint, old fashioned writing in the ancient book. So real did it all seem, that at the end she wept bitterly. Then she dried her tears and dispatched Noah, the old caretaker of the estate, to bring Thurston back. Noah had to swim to get to the destroyer because she was preparing to go to sea. He gave Jane’s note to Thurston and that young man’s commander permitted him to take a day off to say good-bye to his girl, and to meet the ship farther down the coast.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 25 June 2020.
References: Website-IMDb.
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