The Crisis (film)
THE CRISIS
A PLAY IN THREE ACTS
FROM THE BOOK BY Winston Churchill
DIRECTION OF COLIN CAMPBELL
PRODUCED BY
THE SELIG POLYSCOPE CO.
COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY THE SELIG POLYSCOPE CO.
The South wind bore to the ears of the world the wail of the slave.
And the North wind raged with the protest against the barter of mankind.
ABOLISH SLAVERY
—and borne on the wings of the West wind the ceaseless query: "Shall the new states be slave or free?"
Colonel Carvel of St. Louis, his daughter, Virginia, and Judge Silas Whipple.
Colonel Carvel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Matt Snyder | |
Virginia Carvel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Bessie Eyton | |
Silas Whipple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
George Fawcett | |
"Play my favorite, Jinny."
Lead Thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on;
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.
The music carries him back.
Lead Thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on;
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.
Eliphalet Hopper, of Massachusetts, arrives in St. Louis in search of his fortune.
Eliphalet Hopper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Frank Weed | |
"You're a fine specimen of a Yankee."
Capt. Lige Brent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Will Machin | |
PRIVATE
OFFICE
Boston, Mass
My Dear Judge Whipple,
We gratefully accept your kind offer to take Stephen into your office.
Your friendship for my dear gone husband is very precious to me and does much to alleviate our grief, as soon as our affairs will permit we will come South.
Thanking you sincerely
I am yours very truly
Elizabeth B[...]
"Engage rooms for young Brice and his mother at the Crane boarding house."
GARVEL
&
COMPANY
Importers
"Tell Mr. Hood to put this boy to work."
JOHN HOOD
MANAGER
The old friends have their daily quarrel over slavery.
SILAS
WHIPPLE
Virginia visits her father's office.
Private
"Do you work here?"
"Find my father and tell him Miss Carvel is here."
"I ain't no servant."
Clarence Colfax, Virginia's cousin and ardent suitor.
Clarence Colfax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Marshall Neilan | |
"It's only Clarence, he is always wanting to fight with someone."
The Brices arrive at Mrs. Crane's "New England Boarding House."
Stephen Brice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Thomas Santschi | |
Mrs. Brice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Eugenie Besserer | |
"This, mother, is our all---a trifle over nine hundred dollars----I'll bank it on the way to Judge Whipple's."
Hodge's Dry Goods Store
SLAVE AUCTION
THIS MORNING AT 11 O'CLOCK
FROM THE COURT HOUSE STEPS
All property of the late G. W. Scales
"Father, please buy Betty Scales' quadroon, Hester, for me."
The horrors of slavery are borne in upon Stephen at the slave auction.
"I'll buy her for you, Jinny. Mother promised you a present and you shall have her."
"Oh, mistah, is you gwineter stan' heah an' see ma chile sol' down de river?"
"How dare that Yankee bid against Clarence."
Some weeks later the Brices rent one of Mr. Brinsmade's cottages.
Mr Stephen Brice,
of33 Olive St.
Miss Crane's Boarding House,
Lucas Road,
City.
Miss Virginia Carvel requests the pleasure of Mr Stephen Brice's presence at her birthday party Thursday evening the 10th inst. at
Carvel House
The night of the party.
"Honey, I was thinking of your mother."
The Party.
"Why did you bring that damned Yankee here?"
When the guests had gone.
Summer, intolerable summer, is upon the city.
Judge Whipple broadens Stephen's education.
"Take tonight's train for Freeport, find Abe Lincoln, and give him this."
Freeport, Illinois. The night of the great Lincoln-Douglas debate.
St. Louis, Mo.
Dear Abe—
I want my young friend to meet and know you. I like him, send him back to me a good Republican.
Sincerely,
Silas Whipple
DOUGLAS.
DOUGLAS
The great question.
LINCOLNDOUGLAS
"Can the people of a United States Territory in any lawful way, against the wish of any citizen of the United States exclude slavery from its limits, prior to the formation of a State Constitution?"
"This nation cannot exist half slave and half free. Now, let Mr. Douglas explain away the crisis if he can."
Stephen A. Douglas—states rights—fails to convince.
Steve parts with Lincoln.
"Tell me, Steve---weren't you sorry for me last night?"
"I never shall be again, sir."
"Pray God that you may feel sorry for me again. Goodbye, Steve, don't forget me."
Meanwhile, at Glencoe, Col. Carvel's summer home.
Col. Comyn Carvel,
Gloscoe,
Dear Sir:
[...] is my duty to inform you that Judge Whipple is quite ill. Doctors says the host in the city will kill him if he stays. He calls constantly for Miss Carvel.
Respectfully,
Carl Richter.
The Judge yields.
LAW
OFFICES
Glencoe
Aug 20th
My dear Mr. Brice,
I take pleasure in extending you an invitation to spend the weeks end at glencoe.
Please bring Judge Whipple's mail.
Sincerely,
Comyn Carvel
"Mr. Brice is coming this morning, Jinny."
"Now tell me what you think of this fellow, Lincoln."
"And here is the article I wrote for the 'Missouri Gazette' on the debate."
"Juleps."
"A house divided against itself must fall!"
"I'm sorry but I must go back to town tonight."
"I should like to remain, sir, but mother is all alone."
"I asked him to stay, but he spurned the privilege."
"He went back because his mother was all alone."
The weeks pass quietly in old St. Louis.
Naming of Candidates.
INTENSE ENTHUSIASM.
The Struggle between Seward and Lincoln.
LINCOLN NOMINATED.
ONLY THREE BALLOTINGS HAD.
THE VICE-PRESIDENCY.
Hon. Hannibal Hamlin Nominated.
HOW THE NOMINATIONS ARE RECEIVED.
"I'm through with fooling now, Jinny, I'm going to be a man."
The old friendship bears a heavy strain.
"Lige, you're going to vote for Lincoln, aren't you?"
"If Lincoln is elected, the South leaves the Union."
"Silas, if you won't drink it for me perhaps you will drink it for---Abraham Lincoln."
"I reckon I wouldn't be much use to Abe if I took that."
Anne Brinsmade plans a costume ball.
Virginia Carvel
Stephen Brice
Maud Catherwood
Spencer Catherwood
"If that man comes, I won't. He's a Black Republican."
"I don't think he can."
The Costume Ball.
My dear Miss Brinsmade
I might be delayed a bit tonight but will try and be there as soon as I can leave the meeting. I will race my grandfather's uniform as you suggested.
Peacefully,
Stephen Brice
Miss Anne Brinsmade
St. Louis, Mo.
My dear Colfax
Please come to my office at once + sign the deed to the [...] property. It must be done tonight + will keep you only a moment.
Yours
[...]
Mr. Clarence Colfax
Under the spell of the night.
"I---I thought you were my cousin---what must you think of me?"
"I hope you will forgive me---Virginia. I meet you only to anger you---good night, Miss Carvel."
LINCOLN
ELECTED
Dear Jack
Lincoln is elected.
E. E. [...]
The Auction.
Judge Whipple buys Col. Carvel's furniture but keeps only one piece.
"Where's my piano?"
"Jinny's!"
Jefferson City
May 10, 1861
Comyn Carvel, Esq.,
Dear sir
Come to Jefferson City at once. Important to the cause.
Sincerely,
Jackson,
Governor.
"Did I ever strike you as a marryin' man?"
"The lady is YOU."
"Your father's a beggar but for me. I am Carvel and Co. Go and ask him if I'm lying."
"Is it true you have borrowed money from this man?"
"It takes just a minute to walk to that fence, sir. If you are longer I reckon you'll never get past it."
"Honey, I reckon we're just as poor as white trash."
Stephen goes too.
"My country needs me, honey."
On June 22nd, the Seventh Missouri Regiment starts to dig a tunnel under Ft. Jackson.
3 P. M., June 25th, a deathlike stillness pervades the whole command, then---the mine beneath Ft. Jackson lets go.
"General, we are out of percussion caps. I know where some are stored in a shack across the river, can I get them?"
Night falls.
Another day of carnage dawns.
The men in the lines leap from their places and charge in the face of a murderous fire.
On July 3rd, gallant Vicksburg falls.
The lurid flames of bursting shells from Admiral Porter's fleet light up the city.
Brice's influence with Sherman secures a safe passage home for Colfax.
"Miss Jinny, they done brought Massa Clarence home."
WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY.
To St Louis MoTelegraph from Vicksbg Miss
Mrs. S. A. Brice—
Your son slightly wounded invalided house should arrive Wednesday
Sherman
Convalescent.
"Do you love Brice, Jinny?"
"I hate him, Jinny, but he saved my life. He loves you, yet he sent me home to you."
"Love a Yankee? Never!"
Home again.
Elsewhere in the field, the Colonel fights and starves.
JUDGE WHIPPLE SERIOUSLY ILL
Judge Silas Whipple is sinking fast. He continually talks of his friends of other days. He suffered a relapse during the night and there is little or no hope for his recovery, although [...]
"Jinny, I'm exchanged and am going back to the front."
"Will you be my wife at the end of the war?"
J. J. COWAN
COTTON
BUYER.
UP ☜
STAIRS
"Comyn, you are a man of unstained honor. I ask no questions. You are safe with me."
"His Desk!"
Stephen Brice
St. Louis, Mo—
"I thank you, Capt. Brice, for saving my life."
"It is to her your thanks are due. I believe I am not going too far when I congratulate you both."
"My father is in that room."
"What Dr. Polk sanctions is not for me to question."
"You were my friend when I had no other. May God spare your life for Jinny."
"Would you like to see a clergyman?"
"No, madam, you are near enough to God for me."
"I was sick and ye visited me."
"Goodbye, Stephen. Hold the image of Abraham Lincoln in front of you. You are a man after his own heart, and----and mine."
"Will you play my hymn, my dear, once more----once more?"
Lead Thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on;
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.
"You'll marry me now, I call'ate, or I'll have your father hung."
"I don't want to see you hung, but there's just one consideration that will stop me, that's your gal."
"Hopper, I know you! I can prove that you have had traitorous dealings with the confederacy. If General Sherman learns it you go to government prison. Now go!"
Clarence Colfax is court-martialed as a spy.
The field of war again.
"Send word to Jinny, my Jinny."
Three days later Stephen sees Lincoln again.
"Mr. President, I want to ask you to save the life of an officer who is being held as a spy. Colonel Colfax of St. Louis."
"He's the young chap who is going to marry Virginia Carvel, isn't he?"
"You wait in the other room, Steve."
"It's a matter of life and death. I thought your president would see anyone."
"Sit down, Virginia."
"Tell me about your cousin. Are you going to marry him?"
"No, Mr. Lincoln. I was, but I don't love him."
"The officer who saw Colonel Colfax captured is here. He too defended him and asked me to pardon him."
"I am sparing his life, because the time for which we have been waiting and longing is now at hand. The time to be merciful. Let us all thank God for it."
"How I wish that all my people in the South might see you as I have seen you today."
"Virginia, I have not suffered by the South, I have suffered with the South. Your sorrow has been my sorrow, and your pain has been my pain."
"You loved that flag, Virginia, may you always love it. May the day come when this nation, North and South, may look back upon it with reverence."
"We're not going to hang the rebels, Steve, we're going to hang on to 'em."
"And if you have the sense I think you have, you'll hang on too."
"Do you love me, Jinny?"
"I have loved you always. I fought against it but it was in vain."
At Glencoe again.
In the hush of the last night two united hearts, symbols of the reunited nation, bow down to the man of sorrows.
The End.
PASSED
BY THE
NATIONAL BOARD
OF
REVIEW
Ganston Brenton
CHAIRMAN
OFFICIAL STAMP
REG. U. S. PAT. OFF.
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
Copyright law abroad tends to consider the following people authors of a film:
- The principal director
- The screenwriter, and/or other writers of dialogue
- The composer/lyricist (if the film is accompanied by sound)
- The cinematographer
- By extension, the authors of any works that may serve as the basis for a film's plot
The longest-living of these authors died in 1947, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 76 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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