The Awakening (1912)

Bill Williams, a poor inventor with a large family, suddenly comes into great wealth through the sale of an invention. Sudden affluence turns his head, and he changes at once from the ... See full summary »

Directors:

Hobart Bosworth, Hardee Kirkland

Writer:

Lillian Leighton (story)

Stars:

Frank Weed, Lillian Leighton, Rose Evans

Cast

Cast overview:
Frank Weed	...	Thomas Williams - Inventor
Lillian Leighton	...	Mrs. Thomas Williams
Rose Evans	...	Mrs. Coleman - Woman of Fashion
Lafe McKee	...	John Johnson (as Lafayette McKee)
Frances Mason	...	Bonita - the Dancer
Carl Winterhoff	...	Mr. Morse
Maxwell Sargent	...	Mr. Dudley

Storyline

Bill Williams, a poor inventor with a large family, suddenly comes into great wealth through the sale of an invention. Sudden affluence turns his head, and he changes at once from the plodding mechanic of the dingy shop into an ultra-fashionable man of the town. His wife, dazed with her new surroundings, stops at home ministering to her family as of old, while her husband soon finds congenial feminine companions, who flatter him into forgetfulness of his worthy but modest and retiring wife. Strangely enough Mrs. Coleman, the woman of fashion, takes a fancy to the neglected wife and persuades her to follow the example of her husband, in order to win him back. This eventually brings the husband to a sense of his obligations and he becomes reconciled to his wife.

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Genres:

Short | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 October 1912 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Selig Polyscope Company

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

An interesting and substantially human offering

The skillful playing and the personality of Lillian Leighton, who is both author and leading player of this picture, are the chief factors in making it what it undoubtedly is, an interesting and substantially human offering. The situation has been pictured many times. The husband and wife have brought up a family in poverty. They suddenly grow rich. The husband finds more attractive companions than his motherly wife, who remains a stay-at-home. A friend advises her to get some pretty dresses and the husband awakens to the fact that she is herself very attractive. The attentions paid to her by other men show him this. The backgrounds chosen are interesting, but without the deep human interest that comes almost wholly from the role of Lillian Leighton, as she plays it. It would have been merely a sermon-like discussion of the situation. It is a human picture that will move many hearts and will, we feel sure, please widely. Frank Weed plays the father; the dancer is Francis Mason. - The Moving Picture World, November 9, 1912