A Drunkard's Reformation (1909)

A drinking man arrives home, late and sozzled as usual. His wife reminds him that he promised to take their child to a play. The play proves to be a morality tale about the evils of drink; ... See full summary »

Director:

D.W. Griffith

Writer:

D.W. Griffith

Stars:

Arthur V. Johnson, Linda Arvidson, Adele DeGarde

Cast

Credited cast:
Arthur V. Johnson	...	John Wharton
Linda Arvidson	...	Mrs. John Wharton
Adele DeGarde	...	The Wharton Daughter
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charles Avery	...	In the Play
John R. Cumpson	...	In the Orchestra / In the Bar
Gladys Egan
Robert Harron	...	Theatre Usher
Anita Hendrie	...	In the Play / In the Audience
Florence Lawrence	...	In the Play
Marion Leonard	...	In the Play
David Miles	...	In the Play
Owen Moore	...	In the Play
Tom Moore	...	In the Audience
Barry O'Moore	...	(as Herbert Yost)
Herbert Prior	...	In the Bar

Storyline

A drinking man arrives home, late and sozzled as usual. His wife reminds him that he promised to take their child to a play. The play proves to be a morality tale about the evils of drink; he sees the parallels in his own life and swears off the demon brew.

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Plot Keywords:

alcohol | play within play

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Genres:

Drama | Short

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 April 1909 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Mutoscope & Biograph

Technical Specs

Runtime:

13 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Edited into Prohibition: Thirteen Years That Changed America (1997)

User Reviews

griffith tells you how to think...

In this film, Griffith begins to do some of the things that he became known for doing from birth of a nation. You see a lot of cutaways, etc. He also tries to think for his audience in this contrived story about giving up alcohol (a message I don't have a problem with). Strange to see him backing the temperance movement when a few years later he would so against them in intolerance.