In Life's Cycle (1910)

Director:

D.W. Griffith

Writer:

Charles Simone

Stars:

George Nichols, Stephanie Longfellow, Henry B. Walthall

Cast

Credited cast:
George Nichols	...	James Mullen
Stephanie Longfellow	...	Clara, as an Adult
Henry B. Walthall	...	Vincent, as an Adult
Charles West	...	Clara's Temptor
Edith Haldeman	...	Clara's Child
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Linda Arvidson	...	James' Friend
William J. Butler	...	James' Friend
Charles Craig	...	In Bar
Adele DeGarde	...	Clara, as a Child (unconfirmed)
Edward Dillon	...	In Bar
Frank Evans	...	In Bar
Francis J. Grandon	...	In Seminary / In Bar
Joseph Graybill	...	In Bar
Henry Lehrman	...	In Bar
Jeanie Macpherson

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

alcohol | melodrama

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Genres:

Short | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Release Date:

15 September 1910 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Cuddebackville, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Biograph Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

17 min 17 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Melodrama 101 from D.W.

In Life's Cycle (1910)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Fair melodrama about a father (George Nichols) who makes his kids promise not to forget their mother who recently passed. As adults, the son (Henry B. Walthall) goes to become a priest while the daughter (Stephanie Longfellow) runs off with a bad man and soon finds herself in trouble. The son keeps his promise of visiting the grave of his mother but the daughter doesn't follow suit. This isn't the best film to come from Griffith but it at least features some pretty good performances with Walthall leading the way. He manages to pass off emotions without ever going over the top and he really manages to put in a lot of heart to the character. Nichols also manages to be pretty good in his part as is Charles West in a supporting bit. Longfellow on the other hand is pretty forgettable in the role of the daughter and this does bring the film down a few notches considering she has perhaps the most important part here. Fans of the director will want to look quickly for his first wife in a small role. Griffith handles the material quite well as its nothing he wasn't use to but the screenplay really isn't all that special and there's not enough backbone to back up all the preaching.