Vernon Clarger (left), Wilfred Lucas and Gladys Egan.     Frame enlargement: Silent Era low-res collection.

Cast: Wilfred Lucas [George], Claire McDowell [Mrs. Frazier, the mother], Gladys Egan [her daughter, as girl], Dorothy West [the daughter, as young adult], Vernon Clarger [John Gray, the lawyer], Grace Henderson [the landlady], Harry Hyde [the British cousin], Jack Pickford [young man (in blackface)], Clara T. Bracey [wedding attendee; [?] and freed slave (in blackface)?], Guy Hedlund [wedding attendee; and freed slave (in blackface)], Adolph Lestina [freed slave (in blackface)], John T. Dillon [wedding attendee], Jeanie Macpherson [wedding attendee], Marion Sunshine [wedding attendee]

Biograph Company production; distributed by Biograph Company. / Scenario by Emmett Campbell Hall. Cinematography by G.W. Bitzer. / © 24 January 1911 by Biograph Company. Released 19 January 1911. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.37:1 format. / Subtitle: The Sequel to “His Trust”. The film has main titles and intertitles. Preceeded by His Trust (1911). The film was rereleased as a two-reel film with His Trust on 4 July 1916 by Biograph Company.

Drama: Historical: Civil War.

Synopsis: [From a 1911 Biograph advertisement] : The opening scene of this section takes place four years after, at the close of the war. Though emancipated, the old darkey remains true to his trust, denying himself even the necessities of life to provide for the child after the mother’s death, which occurs at the opening. He pretends that the money paid for her support comes from her estate. After a struggle of years he sees her happily married. After this occasion, he goes back to his cabin, fondles his old master’s saber, happy in the realization that he has fulfilled his trust.

Survival Status: Prints exist in the Museum of Modern Art film archive [35mm nitrate negative], and in the Library of Congress film archive (paper print collection) [35mm paper positive].

Keywords: African-Americans - Baskets - Blackface - Books - Cabins - Canes - Children: Orphans - Clocks - Crime: Theft (Attempted) - Death - Fences - Hats: Top hats - Law: Lawyers - Letters - Money - Offices - Poverty - Remorse - Rocking chairs - Self-sacrifice - Tools: Hoes - Vows - Weddings - Weapons: Swords

Listing updated: 10 February 2007.

References: Film credits, film viewing : Barry-Griffith p. 42; Bohn-Light pp. xix, 51; Everson-American pp. 50-51; Fell-History pp. 56, 58; Niver-First p. 150; Spehr-American p. 2; Usai-Griffith-4 p. 249.

Home Video: DVD.