Female of the Species (1912)
Running Time: 17 mins Black & White
Starring: Charles West, Claire McDowell, Mary Pickford
Dreary indeed is the aspect of the little mining camp, deserted by all but four survivors of the terrors of this desert land. The graves in the background vividly tell a story of privation and suffering. The little party comprises a miner, his wife and her sister, and a young woman, who is the sole survivor of another family nearby. Death is inevitable should they stay longer, and so the four start their race with death to the desert's rim. At their first resting place, the wife and her sister go in search of water to replenish their supply. Left alone with the girl, the husband, in a vagary of weakness, makes advances to her. This is seen by the wife from a distance, and in the struggle which ensues, the man, who is a physical wreck, pays the penalty with his life. As the wife and sister stand over the lonely grave, they, wrongly suspecting the girl, are seized with a desire for vengeance, the perpetration of which is only averted by a singular intervention of fate.
Her First Biscuits (1909)
Running Time: 6 mins Black & White
Starring: John R. Cumpson, Florence Lawrence, Linda Arvidson
Mrs. Jones with effusive enthusiasm felt that Eddie dear would appreciate her endeavors to prepare for him a batch of biscuits. That she followed the rules and directions set down in her text books is not questioned, but one bite from the lead-like disks was enough, and getting the dear little creature from the table by subterfuge he throws a full dozen of them through the window, pretending to have eaten them upon her return. Of course she is delighted at his apparent appreciation and when he has departed for the office she puts up a package of them and takes them there, placing them on his desk. Jones is not present at the time, he being in the adjoining room in the throes of indigestion. Visitors to his office, he being a theatrical agent and they hungry actors, espy the inviting looking dough boulders and partake greedily. In a short time the assemblage is a writhing, struggling, screaming mob. Meanwhile, at the Jones domicile the iceman, a housebreaker and the cop who trailed him all fall victims. Well, for a time it looked as if Mrs. Emma Jones was guilty of wholesale manslaughter. The trouble subsides, however, the victims convalesce and peace is restored when Mr. J. hurls, though with reluctance, the pernicious pabulum into the street.
Lonely Villa (1909)
Running Time: 8 mins Black & White
Starring: David Miles, Marion Leonard, Mary Pickford
A gang of thieves lure a man out of his home so that they can rob it and threaten his wife and children. The family barricade themselves in an interior room, but the criminals are well-equipped for breaking in. When the father finds out what is happening, he must race against time to get back home.
New York Hat (1912)
Running Time: 16 mins Black & White
Starring: Mary Pickford, Charles Hill Mailes, Kate Bruce
The young village minister was not quite as discreet as he might have been in fulfilling the strange trust left by the dying mother, but it certainly worked for the common good. By the bequest the mother desired that her daughter possess some of the finery previously denied her. As a result the minister and Mary were linked in a scandal, with the church board in judgment. Gossip received the laugh, however, as it generally does, while the minister assumed a trust quite unexpected.
Ramona (1910)
Running Time: 17 mins Black & White
Starring: Mary Pickford, Henry B. Walthall, Francis J. Grandon
Ramona is a little orphan of the great Spanish household of Moreno. Alessandro, the Indian, arrives at the Camulos ranch with his sheep-shearers, showing his first meeting with Ramona. There is at once a feeling of interest noticeable between them which ripens into love. This Senora Moreno, her foster mother, endeavors to crush, with poor success, until she forces a separation by exiling Alessandro from the ranch. He goes back to his native village to find the white men devastating the place and scattering his people. The Senora, meanwhile, has told Ramona that she herself has Indian blood, which induces her to renounce her present world and go to Alessandro. They are married and he finds still a little shelter left from the wreckage. Here they live until the whites again appear and drive them off, claiming the land. From place to place they journey, only to be driven further until finally death comes to Alessandro just as aid comes in the person of Felipe, the Senora's son, who takes Ramona back to Camulos.
Sweet Memories (1911)
Running Time: 10 mins Black & White
Starring: Mary Pickford, King Baggot, Owen Moore
Edward Jackson brings Polly Riblett to his mother for her blessing, who takes the girl in her arms. The lovers walk away to plan for the future and the venerable woman is lost in thought; her mind reverts to her youth, which is very interesting, and constitutes the greater part of this drama. Mrs. Jackson awakens from her reverie, saddened by the memories. Her face is tear-stained and her body convulsed with sobs. Edward and Polly approach and she turns to them joyfully. She again takes the young girl in her arms and clings to her, admonishing Edward to cherish and protect her. Edward is embraced and extolled as a dutiful son. The young people receive the blessings of the parent.
Violin Maker of Cremona (1909)
Running Time: 10 mins Black & White
Starring: Herbert Prior, Mary Pickford, Owen Moore
In the little Italian city of Cremona there dwelt Taddeo Ferrari, a violin maker and student of Andrea Amati, the most famous of the craft. Ferrari's pretty daughter, Giannina, was beloved by one of his apprentices, Sandro. Filippo, a crippled youth and the best violin maker in Cremona, also loved the girl with a pure, holy affection that is more spiritual than material, but realizing his unattractiveness through his deformity, suffers his hopelessness with resignation. Yearly there is a prize of a precious chain of gold awarded to the maker of the best violin, and all the apprentices strive to win it. On this occasion, however, the hand of Giannina is to be bestowed upon the most proficient craftsman, and this induces the young men to make extra efforts to win. Sandro fully appreciates the rare talent of Filippo and feels sure his wonderful skill will win his sweetheart from him. Crushed and despairing he seeks out Giannina and tells her his fears, she tearfully acknowledging the strength of his reasoning. While thus occupied they are overheard by Filippo, who sees what woe his success would mean for her, and thinking only of her happiness, through his great love for her he makes a great sacrifice. Going to his room he takes his instrument and goes and places it in Sandro's box, taking Sandro's violin and putting it in his own. Sandro, however, thwarts the good intention of Filippo by exchanging the instruments, not knowing what Filippo had done, thereby upsetting the planned munificence of the cripple. When the instruments are placed in competition, and the prizes are about to be awarded, Sandro's conscience pricks him, and calling the cripple aside, confesses his deed. Filippo bursts into taunting laughter, telling him what he, himself, had done, and now he spoiled it all. Judgment is passed and Filippo is, of course, the victor. The chain is placed about his neck, and the hand of Giannina placed in his. But also, he feels she recoils, and thinking only of her happiness he crashes his violin over his knee, thereby putting himself out of the contest and making Sandro the winner. He then places the chain about Sandro's neck, and handing the girl over to him he rushes from the hall. We finally leave him alone in his room, crushed and dejected, yet contented in the thought that he had made her happy.