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A Tale of the Sea
(1910) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by [?] Hal Reid and/or Francis Boggs?
Cast: Hobart Bosworth [Bill], Tom Santschi [Tom], Betty Harte [Bill’s sweetheart; and Tom’s wife], Frank Clark [a fisherman], Nick Cogley [a fisherman]
The Selig Polyscope Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by William N. Selig. Scenario by Hal Reid, from the poem “Jim and Joe” by Hal Reid. / Released 12 December 1910. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Tom and Bill become two inseparable partners when Tom saves the latter from a watery grave. They live very comfortably together in a small hut, and when Tom starts to pay attentions to Sallie, Bill considers “the old female” an intruder and watches the progress of the love match with jealousy. One evening Tom confesses to his partner that he is about to be married, and this so enrages Bill that he knocks Tom down and leaves the room. After the wedding Tom and his bride meet Bill, who refuses to recognize his old friend. He leaves a note for Tom saving that since he has married “the old female” he would only be in the way and therefore was leaving on a long voyage. Five years elapse. Sallie is sitting at the seashore playing with her two little youngsters, and Bill, who just returned from his trip, meets them by chance. The chubby faces and pretty blue eyes of the little ones soften Bill’s heart, and before he is aware of it he is reconciled to his old friend and “the old female.” The two friends leave with a fishing cruise, and Tom and Bill are given the task of spreading the nets. They enter the little boat, and when far out at sea a storm overtakes them; they are driven for miles out into the unknown, at the mercy of the sea. Only a few drops of water are left in the flask, and Bill sees the chance where he can make reparation. He writes the following note, “Tom, the others have died; only you and I are left. There’s water enough in the cask for one only, and I ain’t got no kids or wife waiting for me, old pard. Good-bye. Bill.” This he pins to Tom’s coat and then jumps into the sea. Tom awakes; is startled by the disappearance of his friend. Just then a large vessel comes into sight and Tom is rescued. On the seashore Sallie and her children are looking out upon the sea, praying for the safe return of their beloved ones. Tom finally returns; there is a hearty welcome. Sallie asks for Bill, and Tom, unable to speak, silently points to the sea.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 7 October 2023.
References: Pratt-Spellbound p. ? : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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