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The Castaway
(1912) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by [?] Gaston Méliès and/or Bertram Bracken?
Cast: Ray Gallagher [Robert], Mildred Bracken [Stella Mason], William Ehfe [Arthur, Stella’s sweetheart], Samuel Wiel [Robert, as a boy], Fanny Midgley [Stella’s mother]
G. Méliès production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by Gaston Méliès. Scenario by Edmund Mitchell. Cinematography by Gustave Henschen. / Released 12 December 1912. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [From Méliès promotional materials] Robert, learning that he is but an adopted son and that little Stella is the sole heiress, casts her adrift at sea. Stella is picked up and reared to girlhood by kindly fishermen. Fifteen years later an advertisement leads her to her own mother’s home as a companion, and Robert, now the prospective heir, attempts to act the libertine. But she falls in love with the foreman, and when, by an unmistakable birthmark her mother recognizes Stella as her long lost daughter, Robert’s base plot is unfolded, and the two young lovers are made happy. // [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Mr. Mason adopts Robert, son of his former partner, and rears him as his son. Later Mason marries and has a daughter Stella. On Robert’s twenty-first birthday Mr. and Mrs. Mason tell him that he is but an adopted son and that the little five-year-old Stella is the real heiress to their estate. Robert becomes furiously jealous. He wanders to the beach and little Stella follows him. Here an idea comes to him. He puts Stella in a boat and casts her adrift. All night long the anxious parents search for their dear one, but in vain, and Robert denies any knowledge as to her whereabouts. Far, far from home, Stella is picked up by some kindly fishermen, who adopt her and rear her to girlhood. The only mark of identification on her is a birthmark on her neck. At her benefactor’s death she goes forth to earn her living. Her father has died in the interval and Robert, as the prospective heir, is managing the estate for his mother. Through an advertisement Stella secures a position as a companion in her own mother’s house. Arthur, the foreman of the estate, falls in love with Stella and she with him. Robert, too, is smitten with her beauty and tries to act the libertine, much to her annoyance. It is while Stella is bathing in the surf that that Mrs. Mason recognizes the unmistakable birthmark and claims her joyfully as her long-lost child. Robert is indeed discomfited at this unexpected turn of affairs and tries to get Stella to marry him. But she declares her love for Arthur, whereupon Robert discharges the foreman. Mrs. Mason, however, on hearing the true facts of Robert’s character from Stella, sternly orders him from the house and reinstates Arthur to his position. Even more, by a look and smile she signifies her comprehension of the amorous situation and graciously gives her consent.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 27 May 2024.
References: Thompson-Star p. 232 : ClasIm-226 p. 55 : Website-IMDb.
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