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Herremandens Barnebarn
Also known as The Farmer’s Grandson in the USA
(1908) Denmark
B&W : Short film
Directed by Viggo Larsen
Cast: Aage Brandt, Agnes Nørlund Seemann
Nordisk Films Kompagni production; distributed by Nordisk Films Kompagni. / Produced by Ole Olsen. Cinematography by Axel Graatkjær. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The film was released in the USA by Great Northern Film Company on 19 May 1909; in a split-reel with Winter Landscapes Round Stockholm, Sweden (1909).
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Inspector Brown at the estate is a wicked and brutal person, who is always quarreling with the workmen; but at the same time he is sly enough to ingratiate himself by sly words with the Squire’s daughter Elsie, so much so that she, as the inspector one day is turned out on account of his brutality, follows him, giving up her beautiful home and her old father on his behalf. A year later we see her in a poor-looking room in a big city. Brown is now just as brutal to Elsie as he was before to the workmen; he is not even ashamed of forcing her to give up the last of her savings, although she is ill, having just been confined with a child. This money he spends on bad women. Twelve years have passed. Brown has long since left Elsie, who is obliged to support herself and her boy, Charles, by sewing. Charles now does not want to be an encumbrance to his mother any longer, and we see him leaving the little home to go out in the country to look for a situation. Accidentally he comes to his grandfather’s estate; he is engaged and soon becomes the favorite of the old Squire. One day Charles in taken ill, and the Squire takes him to his own room and puts him to bed there. One night Brown who is now a drunken and disreputable individual, sneaks into the place with the intention to murder the Squire. Charles hears a noise, looks out of the window and is at once equal to the occasion. Instead of giving the alarm to the Squire, he snatches a revolver, which is always lying on a small table beside the bed and lies down again quietly, as if asleep. As Brown, a few moments later, bends over the old gentleman’s bed with the knife in his band. Charles fires the revolver and the rascal falls to the floor severely wounded. Charles gets permission for his mother to come and see him, and, to this effect he writes a letter home. As Elsie receives the letter and sees the well-known address she believes her father has forgiven her, and hurries joyfully back to her old home. But the meeting between father and daughter does not turn out as expected: the old gentleman does not want to have anything to do with his daughter, but as his little rescuer puts father’s and daughter’s hands in each other, he cannot resist any longer, he forgives her and is now happy to have his two dear ones near him.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 29 May 1909, page ?] A Great Northern film which tells plainly and clearly a story of cruelty and abandonment, coupled with honesty and bravery, which finally conquer an old man’s opposition, resulting in a happy ending to serious trouble. The little boy, the principal character, is satisfactory and convincing. It would be difficult to do his work better. The grandfather is also good, and as the others are merely assistants their individualities scarcely exert much influence upon one. In the main the photography is good, but there are places where it might be improved. As a whole it is a satisfactory film. A touch of tragedy is given in forcing the little boy to shoot his own father to protect his grandfather, who, as yet, looks upon him as a stranger. It is, perhaps, this touch which transforms the whole into an admirable film. Otherwise its dramatic qualities are scarcely more than commonplace.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: (unknown)
Listing updated: 20 November 2022.
References: Mottram-Danish p. 37 : Website-IMDb.
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