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The Mills of the Gods
(1909) United States of America
B&W : Split-reel / 672 feet
Directed by D.W. Griffith
Cast: Arthur Johnson [Henry Woodson], Linda Arvidson [Hulda, the maid], Marion Leonard [Nellie], John R. Cumpson [delivery man], [?] ? [the landlady], Frank Powell [a man in the editor’s office], William J. Butler [a man in the editor’s office], Verner Clarges [a man in the editor’s office], Henry B. Walthall [a party guest], Mack Sennett [a party guest], Owen Moore [a party guest], Anthony O’Sullivan [a party guest]
Biograph Company production; distributed by Biograph Company. / Cinematography by G.W. Bitzer. / © 31 August 1909 by Biograph Company [J131133]. Released 30 August 1909; in a split-reel with Pranks (1909). / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The production was shot on 17 July 1909 in the Biograph New York studio.
Drama.
Synopsis: [Biograph Bulletin, number 270, 30 August 1909, page ?] “The Mills of the Gods grind slow, but they grind exceeding small”, is but a synonym of “All comes to him who hustles while he waits”. Genius is often rewarded with posthumous recognition, still there are occasions where fate has produced an agent who has lifted merit into the light of publicity quite unexpectedly. Such an occasion occurs in this Biograph film story. Henry Woodson, a struggling author, has experienced the usual discouraging indifference on the part of magazine editors, who have returned his literary efforts unread, for being unknown to them, they deem it a waste of valuable time to read them. Desperate beyond expression, he realizes that if something doesn’t turn up he will be turned out of his boarding house by the mercenary landlady, whose daughter Nellie he is in love with — which love is returned. Hulda, the Swedish maid, is deeply smitten with the young writer, and is grieved at his misfortune. An idea seizes her. She has saved some money, so she takes his rejected manuscript to the publisher and begs that he accept it and pay for it with her money. This the editor indignantly refuses to do, but her sincere, simple manner appeals to him, so he at length consents to consider it sufficiently as to read it. It is a surprise to him, being possessed of such rare merit, that he sends a check to Woodson, with word that he will be glad to consider anything else he may write. Woodson is at a loss to know what caused their change of attitude, until after the editor tells him of the Swedish girl’s visit. He also realizes who had left financial assistance on his table anonymously, for which he gave the landlady’s daughter credit. Hulda’s action was induced by her lover for him, but his heart is given to Nellie so the poor girl yields to the protestations of Ole, who loves her to distraction. His devotion for her really wins her heart, and makes her happy and forget the indifference of Woodson.
Survival status: Prints exist in the Museum of Modern Art film archive [35mm nitrate positive, 35mm acetate fine-grain master preservation negative]; and in the Library of Congress film archive (paper print collection) [35mm paper positive].
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Boarding houses - Domestics: Maids - Landladys - Manuscripts - Offices - Publishers (Magazine) - Swedes (Abroad) - Writers
Listing updated: 25 March 2012.
References: Barry-Griffith p. 41; Spehr-American p. 3; Usai-Griffith-3 pp. 19-20 : Website-AFI.
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