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With Her Card
(1909) United States of America
B&W : One reel / 1000 feet
Directed by D.W. Griffith
Cast: Owen Moore [Henry Larkin], Frank Powell [Randolph Churchill], Marion Leonard [Adele Alletta], Mack Sennett [a man in Larkin’s office], Arthur Johnson [a man in Larkin’s office], Charles Avery [a man in Larkin’s office], Henry B. Walthall [a man in Larkin’s office], Anthony O’Sullivan [a man in Churchill’s office; and a footman], John R. Cumpson [a man in Churchill’s office], William A. Quirk (Billy Quirk) [a man in Churchill’s office], William J. Butler [a man in Churchill’s office], [?] Verner Clarges? [a man in Churchill’s office], Frank Evans [extra], [?] ? [Adele’s maid]
Biograph Company production; distributed by Biograph Company. / Cinematography by G.W. Bitzer. / © 17 August 1909 by Biograph Company [J130708]. Released 16 August 1909. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The production was shot on 7 July 1909 in the Biograph New York studio.
Drama.
Synopsis: [Biograph Bulletin, number 266, 16 August 1909, page ?] THE STORY OF A WOMAN SCORNED / The more we love the nearer we are to hate, and there is no hate as that of a woman scorned. Treat a woman with indifference and she will cling to you, but scorn her and you have aroused a serpent more venomous than the adder. Randolph Churchill, a Wall Street broker, incurred the love of Adele Alletta, a comic opera favorite, and although he treated her with almost cruel sang-froid, she rejected all other suitors in his favor, among whom was Henry Larkin, another broker, who sincerely loved her. Adele, however, was simply a whim with Churchill, and he coldly threw her aside to marry a society belle. The information comes to her in a letter from him, and also announcement of his engagement in the newspapers. He did not know the designing powers of the seemingly light-hearted, frivolous girl, who at once evolved a scheme he little dreamed her capable of. Appreciating the strength and sincerity of Larkin’s love for her, he having sought her in marriage most ardently, she writes him of the humiliating insult she suffered from Churchill, begs that he effect his ruin in the market, promising to marry him the day he occomplishes [sic] it. Larkin is most willing to undertake the affair, as he had undergone many a heartache on account of his rival, and as Churchill’s holding are in the open market, he figures the undertaking fairly easy, and feels positive of success. At last the fight is on: the tickers relentlessly and industriously record the diverging currents of fortune. Larkin, upward; Churchill, downward, until at the end of the first day a little short of panic hangs over the office of Churchill. The game, however, is to be to the bitter end, and the next day opens ominous for the victim. He is at loss to know who his opponent is, and fate leads him to the office of Larkin for help, where he learns the truth of the situation. In desperation he returns to his own office to find the last prop broken and his fortune swept away. His fiancee, the society belle, learns of his ruin, cruelly deserts him, as do all of his so-called friends. Larkin loses no time in informing Adele of the result of the scheme and she comes to the office, where, realizing the extreme woe of Churchill, persuades Larkin to send him back his holdings with her card attached, on which is written “The game won, spoils returned with compliments of Adele Alletta”. These arrive at Churchill’s office very timely, for in his desperation he was about to terminate his existence. Adele is true to promise with Larkin, and accepts the situation with felicity, as during the episode her eyes are opened and she sees Larkin’s real worth and loves him. Churchill, on the other hand, bows to the inevitable with more than becoming grace, as the return of his fortune is the all-important. // Additional synopsis available in Usai-Griffith-3 p. 10.
Survival status: Prints exist in the Museum of Modern Art film archive [35mm nitrate negative]; and in the Library of Congress film archive (paper print collection) [35mm paper positive].
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Engagements - Offices - Stockbrokers - USA: New York: New York: Wall Street
Listing updated: 24 March 2012.
References: Barry-Griffith p. 41; Spehr-American p. 4; Usai-Griffith-3 pp. 9-11 : Website-AFI.
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