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Unto the Third and Fourth Generation
(1914) United States of America
B&W : Two reels
Directed by Edward J. LeSaint
Cast: Guy Oliver [John Smythe, also known as William Smith], Stella Razeto [Mary Wayne], Al W. Filson [Squire Smythe], Joe King [William Wayne], Lea Errol [Mrs. Smythe], George Hernandez [Mr. Smith], Anna Dodge [Mrs. Smith], Lilly Clark (Lillian Clark) [Nell], Philo McCullough [Ned], William P. Hutchinson (William Hutchison)
The Selig Polyscope Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by William N. Selig. From a story by William E. Wing. / Released 5 January 1914. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Historical.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? John Smythe returns from war as a youth who has been seasoned by experience, vested with ambition and armed with a sword which has won him honors. His father is one of those merry old English squires, of the hard riding, hard drinking type, who lives in the open in the saddle, and when at home takes much to the flagon. His mother is a gentle woman, and abhors the night revels in the hall of their manor, but she has been overruled so long, that she has submitted to the disagreeable function that has become a bad habit. When the stalwart son returns, the jolly squire marks his approval of his triumphs with much wine. The poor mother interferes, but the squire declares that it will “put red blood in him like that of his ancestors.” John soon meets up with blushing, budding Mary Wayne, their engagement is announced. A friendly rivalry springs up between John and his cousin, William Wayne. The latter strangely proves his superiority in archery and horse racing, but the former, as a soldier, pockets his pride like a natural gentleman, until a fatal evening, when heated in a drinking bout, high words are exchanged between the two youths; there is a quick passage of arms, William falls with a sword thrust through his heart and John Smythe goes out, a wanderer in the world, drifts far across the sea to the new world, leaving his stricken parents in the ancient home bereft. William Smith, who has eliminated the “y” from his name, has been graduated with honors from a college, returning with trophies for physical prowess, in addition to scholastic degrees. His father and mother greet him proudly, and he is the college hero, and behind them is the inevitable girl to make the triangle. The younger set celebrate the local idol’s victories on turf and field, and the high-living banker, Willis, follows the occasion with an invitation to drink. The young athlete with a system clean and strong, suddenly finds the taste of liquor most agreeable, and soon surrenders to the appetite. A shadow falls across the threshold of his happy home. His mother is stricken with a deathly distress over his weakness, but the young man with the hardihood of youth, boasts that, “All business men take a drink now and then without harm.” His placid father is startled when he finds a hidden bottle in the boy’s room. All at once a new danger comes as a stalking skeleton in that household. Then the mother explains her perturbation in a secret visit to the cob-webbed attic, where she opens an ancient chest and removes a sword rusted with the stain of tragedy that fell upon their house two centuries before. On the raised lid of the chest is carved: “Beware ye curse of ye cup an’ ye sworde!” Now comes the son, and his mother tearfully points him the warning, but he laughs away her fears and carries the flagon and sword to his own room. Fast following, comes a birthday dinner in honor of his return. The guests come and some of his fast friends insist that it can be no dinner without wine, and one has secretly provided liquor in plenty. The young man receives his friends in great pride, but his father has disappeared. He has found the liquor, yielded to the taste of wine and when they find him he is a besotted thing, a victim of the ancient, pursuing curse that has followed his house. At the sight, the guests are ashamed, aghast, and silently melt away, carrying with them a memory that burned like a scar. Time, however, effaces the cruelty of the blow, but the lesson tells. Will’s soul is filled with repentance and abhorrence. He steals back to his room, breaks the sword and flagon, breaks the spell of the curse. His father is brought back to health and happiness is restored in the household in which the new mistress, the wife of the regenerated boy, becomes a goddess.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 5 October 2023.
References: Lahue-Selig p. 166 : Website-IMDb.
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