The Renunciation (1909)
1909 · Silent film · 11 min · dir. D.W. Griffith
- Western
Synopsis
The appearance of pretty little Kittie Ryan played havoc at Yellow Hill Mining Camp. Joe Fielding and Sam Walters were boyhood chums, and becoming obsessed with the gold fever came out to Yellow Hill as partners. Both sturdy, honorable chaps, they found congeniality in each other's company. They worked together, shared the fruits of their toil, and, in fact, seemed a monumental typification of true friendship. We see them sitting on the rocks smoking and talking over old times, no doubt repeating the lines of Byron: "Ah! happy years! once more, who would not be a boy." But, lo! A cloud. The heart-high disturber appears in the person of Kittie, the pretty niece of old Steve Ryan, on a visit from the East. Joe and Sam are immediately smitten with the little one, whose lustrous orbs pierce their very soul. Both make up their minds to win her, as does every other fellow in the camp. However, Joe seems to hold high cards, and so the erstwhile chums are now bitter rivals. They quarrel over the precious bit of femininity, and a challenge to a duel with pistols is the outcome. Joe is a dead shot, while Sam's aim is uncertain. Upon returning to his cabin, Joe's eye alights on a photograph of the boyhood chums, and his heart softens. He realizes the duel can only result in the death of his chum, so he decides it shall not take place, and he writes a note, renouncing claim to the girl's attentions, and will leave the place at sunrise; in conclusion, hoping that Sam and Kittie will be…
Synopsis from OMDb
Details
- Director
- D.W. Griffith
- Writer
- D.W. Griffith
- Studio
- Biograph Company
- Released
- 1909-07-19
- Running time
- 11 minutes
- Language
- English
- Collection
- Silent Films, Feature Films
Cast & crew
D.W. Griffith Director
Mary Pickford- Anthony O'Sullivan
James Kirkwood
Harry Solter
Billy Quirk
Edwin August
Arthur V. Johnson
Wilfred Lucas
