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The Ones Who Suffer
(1912) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by Colin Campbell
Cast: Tom Santschi [Tom Jennings], Herbert Rawlinson [John Lane], Fred Huntley [Reverend Charles Williams], Ed Philbrook (Edward H. Philbrook) [Detective Inspector Stroud], Bessie Eyton [Kate Jennings], Al E. Garcia (Al Ernest Garcia) [the prison warden], Nick Cogley [Superintendent Hooper], Camille Astor [Mrs. Lane]
The Selig Polyscope Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by William N. Selig. Scenario by Colin Campbell. / Released 21 March 1912. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Tom Jennings is a young man who gets started wrong and commits a burglary. Jennings is sentenced to a term in San Quentin prison. After a time he succeeds in escaping down the prison wall to the sea, and swims to freedom. He is discovered by a clergyman. He throws himself on the minister’s mercy, who gives Jennings a change of clothes and throws the officers off his track. But John Lane sees the minister befriend the convict and informs the guards of what he saw. In the meantime Jennings has made good in the city, where he works for the railroad company. Posters offering reward for Jennings have been circulated, and both John Lane and Detective Stroud have laid one away in their pockets for future reference. Lane becomes a clerk under Jennings in the railroad offices, and recognizes the former convict. He gives him away to the detectives, who arrests him, Jennings is returned to the penitentiary and Lane feels very happy in the possession of the reward. While he is serving the remainder of his term Jennings’ wife dies of a broken heart, and her baby goes with her. When Jennings is released he sets about locating Lane. On a certain night, while Lane is pouring over his accounts, Jennings enters the room, seats himself opposite Lane, then presents his pistol to Lane’s breast and announces that his hour of vengeance has arrived. Just as the tragedy is about to be consummated, Mrs. Lane comes down the stairs beyond the portieres with her year-old baby. Jennings drops his gun and slips away into the night unobserved by the woman.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 6 April 1912, page ?] It is the wives and children of course, and it is clearly set forth in this picture of an escaped convict who has been returned to prison after he had married and become a father. The picture is truly effective, but the whole drift of the story doesn’t come out clearly until rather late in the film. This is not necessarily a weakness. There are two characters which, although barely outlined, are interesting studies. Both contributed to the tragedy. One is the sentimental old man who helped the convict and the other is the grasping man in fashionable clothes who betrayed him to the police for the reward. It is a good picture; but it will be admired more than liked. We call it a feature. Some of the photographs are lovely.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 21 May 2024.
References: Sloan-Loud p. 41 : Website-IMDb.
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