The Third Thanksgiving - Production & Contact Info (original) (raw)

A New England farmer, is about to sit down with his wife to a Thanksgiving dinner when the only son arrives with his fiancée, a young actress. The young people receive a cold greeting on account of the old man's prejudices and take their ...See moreA New England farmer, is about to sit down with his wife to a Thanksgiving dinner when the only son arrives with his fiancée, a young actress. The young people receive a cold greeting on account of the old man's prejudices and take their leave instead of sitting down to the table. They return to the city, marry and live the simple life, a Harlem flat. They actually thrive on bread, cheese and kisses, even after a baby comes, but they are unable to effect a reconciliation with the old couple and the second Thanksgiving is shown in a pretty double exposure, the old ones at home, the young ones in a city restaurant. Before the third celebration of divine goodness, the most distinctive of New England holidays, the young man is taken ill, loses his situation and is threatened with extreme poverty. His loyal little wife seeks employment at a moving picture company, and her professional experience, together with the fact that she has a dancing friend at the work, gives her opportunity. She takes up her burden with courage, supports her sick husband and baby, and keeps her small household in order besides. The old farmer is taken one night to a picture show and there sees on the screen an Edison release exhibiting the young man's wife in abbreviated costume. It is now high time for him to assert his moral superiority. He accordingly takes his wife to town, and they visit the poor home of their boy. The old man opens up in denunciation of the ungodly wife, but is not permitted to go very far by the young husband. He strikes back with more soul than strength, reveals that the little creature has pulled him through the hardest and most perilous period of his mature life and leads his parents to the kitchen where she is bearing her heavy burdens with cheerful courage. Knowledge of the wrong he has done to the young wife cuts the old man to the quick, and the sudden revulsion of feeling he shows is the affecting moment of the play. The art that reflects temperament, intellect, emotions and character in this simple way is not to die if its evolution proceeds along such natural and simple lines. A reconciliation is effected after a lot of beautiful and sincere work on the part of the characters, and the "Third Thanksgiving," as may well be expected, is the happiest one in the lives of all. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less