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Olaf — An Atom
(1913) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by Anthony O’Sullivan
Cast: Harry Carey [Olaf, an atom], Kate Bruce [Olaf’s mother], Charles Hill Mailes [a parent], Claire McDowell [a parent], Donald Crisp [the beggar], Frank Evans [the blacksmith], John T. Dillon [the claim jumper], [?] Thomas Jefferson? [the doctor]
Biograph Company production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Scenario by W.C. Wing (William E. Wing). Cinematography by G.W. Bitzer. / Released 19 May 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Romance.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? A story of reciprocated kindness in an unkind world. After the death of his wife, Olaf became a wanderer in search of kindness. In his travels he meets but one kind person, the homesteader’s wife. She gives him food and in return he saves the homesteader and his family from the artful land-grabbers. But in their joy they forget Olaf and he again becomes a wanderer.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 13 May 1913, page ?] A picture that is wholly conventional; but makes good use of all its material after the rather dull opening. It is the picture of the race to the office of the land claims agent. Olaf, a tramp, is fed by the settler’s wife and later finds that certain evil men have discovered a flaw in the papers of his benefactress’ husband. He sends the man riding on his horse to save his claim and himself rides on the trunk-rack behind their automobile, cutting the tires with a knife. It lacks the sentimental ending, which is one thing to be thankful for. The camera work is fair. The players, Claire McDowell, Charles Mailes and Harry Carey (Olaf) do pretty well; the picture gave them small chance to act.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 22 May 2024.
References: Barry-Griffith p. 43; Spehr-American p. 3 : Website-IMDb.
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