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The End of the Circle
(1913) United States of America
B&W : Short film
Directed by Jess Robbins
Cast: Fred Church [the prospector], Eleanor Blevins [his sweetheart], True Boardman [his rival], Evelyn Selbie [the Mexican señorita], Lois Ingraham [the child], Thomas J. Crizer, David Kirkland, Slim Padgett, Victor Potel [a gambler], Jack Roberts, Carl Stockdale [the Mexican bartender]
Essanay Film Manufacturing Company production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Released 21 November 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The film was rereleased in the USA by Capitol Film Exchange in 1924.
Drama: Western.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? During the early days of the west, when those parts were poorly settled. Will Davis, a prospector, landed in a small town, A Mexican girl, Juanita by name, becomes much interested in Davis, and determines that he be hers and hers only. Dom Wilson, a ranchman, plays his cards two ways, first by making love to Juanita, and second by bestowing his attentions on a beautiful young Miss of the village, Eileen Sheridan. Davis meets Miss Sheridan and the two become infatuated with each other. The young prospector proposes to her and she accepts him. The news of the engagement spreads about the town and Will is congratulated heartily by all but Wilson and Juanita, who swear revenge. Juanita’s love turns to hate, which makes her as bitter towards Davis as Wilson, and when a woman hates, the flames of hell are as heaven in comparison. Wilson calls on Eileen and tells her that Davis is leading a double life, that he is not true to her. Eileen refuses to believe the ranchman, but when he promises that she can see for herself, she realizes that the terrible statement may be true. Juanita “accidentally” calls on Davis at his cabin, where she tries to embrace him. Making sure that Wilson has led the unsuspecting Eileen within sight of the cabin door, she continues to force her attentions on Davis. The climax comes when Eileen sees the Mexican girl leave the cabin of her sweetheart. Disgusted with the one man she thought the world of, and not taking time to think of the future, Eileen, for spite, marries Don Wilson. Davis sees the two as they leave on a prairie schooner for other parts, and his heart throbs within his breast as though it would break. A few years elapse and we see Wilson, a drunkard of the lowest degree. He has forgotten that he ever loved Eileen and his only thought is of “more whiskey.” Eileen’s mental strain takes away her physical strength, and she becomes a victim of the white plague. A daughter is brought into the world to curse the unhappy marriage. The family pitch camp by the roadside and Dom becomes very abusive to his wife, when he discovers that they are almost out of provisions. He unhitches one of the horses and rides to the nearest town some miles away, there to sell his horse, the proceeds of which are spent for whiskey and to be gambled away. Eileen becomes worse, and fearing she will die, sends her young daughter in search of her father. Dom, in a drunken stupor, falls over a cliff, which brings about his untimely end. Davis, camping nearby, rushes to the scene to discover that it is his old rival. Davis climbs to the top of the cliff in time to save the life of Wilson’s child from a bear. Will Davis carries the child to the prairie schooner, where he recognizes Eileen, Eileen clasps Davis and kisses him fondly, and passes off into another world, leaving the child to be taken care of by her former sweetheart, and he only too willingly promises to take care of her as he would his own.
Survival status: Print exists.
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 20 October 2024.
References: Website-IMDb.
Home video: DVD.
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