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The Old Clerk
(1913) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by Henry MacRae
Cast: William Hutchinson [Mr. Woodcraft, the old clerk], Frank Clark [Montgomery Morton, the wealthy broker], Herbert Rawlinson [Jack Morton, the wealthy broker’s son], Anna Dodge [Maggie Woodcraft, the old clerk’s wife], Eddie James [Button, the office boy]
The Selig Polyscope Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by William N. Selig. Scenario by Henry MacRae. / Released 24 March 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? An old bookkeeper loses his life-long position through a change in management of the firm for which he has worked. The son of the owner is made manager. He is an up-to-date chap with little respect for old people. He proceeds to clean the establishment of all its “fossils.¸” He starts with the ancient janitor and ends with old Woodcroft, the trusted clerk. Old Woodcroft has especially provoked the young manager by always referring to a notebook when working the combination on the vault door. Young Morton finally takes the notebook away from the clerk, and tears up the leaf on which is registered the combination, telling the old man that a businessman of modern training can remember such trifles in his head after one glance at the numbers. Woodcroft is terribly depressed by his discharge. He broods until he is obsessed with the idea that he will shoot himself at exactly one o’clock. In the meantime the elder Morton, while arranging the final details of turning the business over to his son, has gone into the vault with some papers. The new janitor, eager to show his prowess, polishes the vault door with a rag and during the process closes the door and accidentally throws the lock. The elder Morton is imprisoned. The son cannot remember the combination, despite his boast. He rashes to get old Woodcroft. The latter is interrupted just before the clock strikes his hour of doom, and the old man manages to remember the vault combination in time to save Morton.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 5 April 1913, page ?] It is well that motion pictures occasionally take up this theme, the trials of the old employee. With the public it seems to be popular even when no new light is thrown on the situation. In this case it is treated in a way that is far from being superficial and makes a good offering. Henry McRae is both author and producer. The old clerk is played by W. Hutchinson, and Herbert Rawlinson is the young man who takes the place of the old manager, Frank Clark. The interest is well sustained, although the ending is not convincing. The photography is clear.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 22 May 2024.
References: Lahue-Selig p. 142 : Website-IMDb.
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