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A Touching Affair
(1910) United States of America
B&W : One reel / 998 feet
Directed by Sam Morris
Cast: J. Warren Kerrigan [Harry Kenwood], Adrienne Kroell [Annie], George Periolat [George Kenwood, Harry’s father]
American Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by Motion Picture Distributing & Sales Company. / Released 1 December 1910. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Comedy.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? George Kenwood is the wealthy and indulgent father of a frolicsome, devil-may-care son. His kindness imposed upon, until finally his patience is exhausted, he orders his son to leave his house and never darken his door again. The latter assumes an indifferent air lights a cigarette, takes up his coat and hat and leaves the house. He is next seen seeking employment as an accountant in a brokerage office in New York, where his irrepressible manner and confident bearing gains for him a hearing. Having no credentials, except his personal statement, as to his honesty and ability, the broker informs him that it is not sufficient. As he turns away, discouraged and crestfallen, he catches a glance of sympathy from Annie, the pretty girl stenographer. The look inspires him to make another effort, so he turns with a burst of enthusiastic self-praise and finally convinces the broker, who at once employs him. Only a few days were necessary for Harry to prove his inefficiency and a disinclination for a life of confinement. His pranks and practical jokes, coupled with his attention to Annie, the pretty stenographer, and her pronounced partiality for Harry made him an object of hatred and envy on the part of his fellow employees, who finally succeeded in effecting his dismissal. Loss of position did not discourage Harry in pursuit of Annie. On the contrary, his manner became more insistent until finally she consents to become his wife. He apprises his father of his approaching marriage, and receives a check for five hundred dollars, his blessing and information that this remittance would be the last he would receive. The young couple are married, and the attendant honeymoon expenses soon exhausts the meagre dowry, and in a short time the irate landlord and clamoring tradesmen render their lives unbearable. Driven to desperate means, Harry hits upon a plan by which he hopes to soften his father’s resolve. He wires the old gentleman that the union of himself and Annie has been blessed by the arrival of a ten-pound boy. The father receives the message in due course, and immediately notifies the son that he will arrive in New York to see his grandson, offer his congratulations and a generous check. Harry drops into a chair in bewilderment. “What’s to be done? I must have a baby here within an hour.” A way out of the difficulty suggests itself. He rushes madly into the street, is seen running frantically up and down the thoroughfare in an endeavor to get possession of an infant. He seizes every baby, is repulsed at every turn, until finally in despair he returns to the house and tells the janitor he must have an infant at once. The janitor goes in quest of one, just as a taxicab rolls up to the door and the elder Kenwood steps out. Harry, beside himself, runs to the apartment and prepares to greet his father. He enters the room and is met by his son and the excited young wife. His father asks about the child, and is told that the nurse has it out for an airing. He leaves his father to be entertained by Annie, while he rushes from the room and shortly returns in company with the janitor’s wife, who has been pressed into service as a nurse. As he enters he winks knowingly at his wife. The baby, completely enveloped in a wrap is brought down, and while all gaze in expectancy, a covering is removed from its face, disclosing a very black pickaninny. Everyone is staggered. The father berates Harry for so imposing upon him. Starts angrily to leave the room, he knocks over a work basket and several articles of infant’s apparel fall to the floor. He picks up an infant’s shirt and a little shoe. Looks inquiringly at Annie, who blushingly drops her head. The father is convinced that the stork is shortly to invade the home of his son. He hands him the check and rapidly writes a note: “My children: If it’s a boy, name him George. If it’s a girl, name her Annie. Draw on me for $5,000.00. Grandpa-to-be.” In this reel a delicate subject is handled in a delightful manner, and the result is a heart-interest comedy hard to equal.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 8 October 2023.
References: Lyons-American p. 217 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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