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The Accusation
(1914) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by Harry T. Myers
Cast: Harry T. Myers [James Dayton], Rosemary Theby [Cora Lund], Brinsley Shaw [John Dix], Neil Moran [Colonel Lund], Ruth Fielding [Mary Dix], I. Eidding
Victor Film Company production; distributed by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated. / Released [?] 25 or 26? December 1914. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? James Dayton and John Dix are rivals for the hand and affections of pretty Cora Lund, the only daughter of Colonel Lund, a retired army officer. Colonel Lund has spent a lifetime in the army and has seen service on many battlefields. Young Dayton, because of his frank, unassuming manner, quickly wins the grizzled old veteran’s regard. In this judgment Cora Lund also concurs. Something secretive in Dix’s manner has created an unfavorable impression against the man in her mind and, being a woman, she persists in her dislike, “just because.” At a dinner party Colonel Lund announces the engagement of his daughter to Dayton and the young woman is showered with congratulations from all sides. Dix takes his dismissal with bad grace and at the dinner party attracts attention to himself by his taciturn, hang-dog air. Later, when the rejected suitor sees Dayton and his fiancee embracing, his smoldering jealousy flames into hate and he plans to be revenged upon the man who has won from him the woman he coveted. Although his friends in society are unaware of it, Dix wronged Mary Dix, a working girl, who has borne him a child. Angered beyond measure by the fruits of his sin, Dix has cast the mother aside and refused to provide for his own flesh and blood. In considering various means of revenging himself upon Dayton, Dix decides to use his unfortunate victim to further his ends. Accordingly he forces the girl to write a letter to Colonel Lund, Cora’s father, accusing Dayton of being the father of the baby. Dix promises his common-law wife that if she will carry out the deception he will marry her, a promise which, of course, he never intends keeping. In order to prove the truth of his insinuation as to Dayton’s lack of moral character, Dix forces Mary to come with him to the Lund home where the girl tells the Colonel and his daughter the story of Dayton’s relations with her. At first the Colonel and Cora are loath to believe the girl’s story, but when she gives intimate data and other circumstantial evidence manufactured by the man who has wronged her, Lund and his daughter reluctantly accept as true the tale told by the girl. Upon seeing his plan has partially succeeded, Dix immediately starts to make violent love to Cora. Broken-hearted by Dix's allegations regarding her fiance, Cora is too dejected to take much notice of Dix’s renewed attentions. While father, daughter, Dix and the woman he has wronged are still in the Lund home, Dayton enters and is confronted by Mary. Angered as well as saddened by the injustice of his position, and the attitude of his fiancee and Colonel Lund. Dayton leaves the house, crushed and despondent. Dix exults in his rival’s discomfiture. Dix has overlooked one thing in his carefully conceived plot. Learning that her common law husband plans to marry Cora, Mary hunts Dix out and demands he fulfill his pledge of marriage. Dix laughs at her and makes it plain that he never will acknowledge that he is the father of her child. Finding she has been duped, Mary wanders about half dazed by her grief. As she walks bewildered through the street she comes upon Dayton. Dayton reproaches Mary for the lie which has estranged him from his fiancee. Under his fierce questioning the grief-stricken girl breaks down and sobs out her story. Dayton is promised by the young woman that she will tell the truth to Colonel Lund. Mary is about to enter the Lund home when Dix comes out. The desperate look in her eyes warns him of his danger and he struggles to prevent her from going inside and exposing him. Mary attempts to break away from him and Dix, angered beyond measure by her actions, draws a revolver and shoots. The bullet enters Mary’s arm. Dayton, who has followed Mary to see that she fulfills her promise, rushes to her help and grapples with Dix in time to prevent him from shooting her again. Mary is taken into the house, where her wound is dressed. Later she confesses to Colonel Lund and Cora and accuses Dix. Dayton forces Dix to confess his perfidy. Colonel Lund, in agreeing not to press a charge against Dix, exacts a promise from the latter that he will marry the girl he has wronged, and Dix shamed into promising by Cora, agrees to do so at once. The closing scene of this intensely dramatic photoplay shows Colonel Lund, Cora and Dayton in a happy group, making plans for the coming wedding ceremony.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 25 November 2022.
References: Braff-Short n. 53 : Website-IMDb.
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