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The Mysterious Way
(1913) United States of America
B&W : [?] One or Two? reels
Directed by Fred W. Huntley
Cast: Joseph King (Joe King) [Charles Trenton], George Hernandez [Charles Bunner], Henry W. Otto (Henry Otto) [Ardis Taylor], W.H. Brown (William H. Brown) [Giuseppi], Baby Lillian Wade [Little Isabel Trenton, as a child], Eugenie Besserer [Mary Trenton], Mabel Van Buren [Isabel Trenton, as an adult], Lea Errol [Mary Bunner]
The Selig Polyscope Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by William N. Selig. From a story by Arthur Preston Hankins. / Released 12 December 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Little Isabel Trenton experiences great delight in the presence of an Italian organ grinder and his monkey, and follows them through the winding streets of the town until they reach the railroad yards. The tired Italian climbs into an empty box-car with his monkey for a snooze, and the little girl climbs in after them. She gazes at the monkey so long that she herself falls into a deep sleep. The organ grinder, awakened by the jar of the car as it is coupled, jumps out, but little Isabel sleeps on, and when she awakens is several hundred miles from home. She is discovered by the brakeman and turned over to the Salvation Army for safekeeping. The only distinctive feature of her apparel is a plaid cap of peculiar pattern. She is adopted by wealthy people, grows up, marries, and eventually goes back to her home city, taking her own little girl with her. This child wanders out of the hotel and becomes lost, as her mother did before her, and, strangely enough, falls into the hands of Isabel’s own parents, who still preserve the little coat which matched the plaid cap, a memento of the child they lost so long ago. The old lady generously sacrifices herself by donating the precious relic to the waif they have found. Isabel is finally restored to her mother, who in turn finds her own parents, so that the reunion is doubly happy.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 27 December 1913, page ?] This story, written by Arthur Preston Harkins, is an absorbing one and has a particularly effective close. The little girl runs away to follow the organ grinder and his monkey. She falls asleep in a box car. Eighteen years later the same girl plays the part of her own daughter and runs away. She finds her own grandparents. The plot has an impossible sound, but as worked out on the screen it is very convincing and has a strong heart interest. A good offering.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 4 June 2024.
References: Lahue-Selig p. 159 : Website-IMDb.
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