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Where Charity Begins
(1913) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by Phillips Smalley
Cast: Pearl White [Helen Morris], [?] Chester Barnett?
The Crystal Film Company production; distributed by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated. / Released 27 May 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Comedy-Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Helen, daughter of Mrs. Morris a wealthy widow, devoted her time to teaching at St. James Settlement House helping the sick and needy in the tenement district. Helen’s mother at home alone, longs for companionship while her daughter is in the Settlement. Mrs. Morris becomes seriously ill and is attended by Dr. Gerald, Helen’s ardent admirer. Helen neglects her mother and lover to devote herself to the care of Mrs. Dawson whose daughter is entertaining her beau, another of Helen’s protégés. The trained nurse neglects Mrs. Morris while her patient cries in vain for a drink of water. Helen returns home to find her mother unconscious on the floor while the nurse is flirting with the butler. Fully awakened by the incident, Helen resigns from the Settlement Club and vows to devote her time and companionship to her own mother and lover.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 17 May 1913, page ?] Helen neglects her own mother to go into the slums and look after a sick woman. Her mother becomes sick and almost dies while she is away. The story wavers between comedy and tragedy and this uncertainty weakens it very much. The end is not as strong as might be expected.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 15 November 2022.
References: Braff-Universal n. 9019; Lahue-World p. 52 : Website-IMDb.
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