The Morals of Hilda
The Morals of Hilda is a 1916 American silent romantic drama directed by Lloyd B. Carleton based on the story by Henry Christeen Warnack and starring Gretchen Lederer and Frank Whitson. The movie was released on December 11, 1916 by Universal Red Feather Photoplays.[1][2]
| The Morals of Hilda | |
|---|---|
 Motion Picture News advertisement | |
| Directed by | Lloyd B. Carleton |
| Produced by | Universal Red Feather Photoplays |
| Written by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Roy H. Klaffki |
| Distributed by | Universal |
Release date |
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Running time | 5 reels |
| Country | USA |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles |
Plot
The story is about August played by Frank Whitson and Hilda played by Gretchen Lederer. Both are simple peasants living in the “old country.” August has trouble finding work in the village. In their country, a man does not propose marriage until he has saved enough money to support his new wife. August and Hilda love each other and live together. But August can’t save enough money even to consider marriage. August and Hilda are desperate to wed and start a family. They decide the only hope to achieve their dreams is to seek their fortune in the new world, i.e. America.
They arrive in America. They find a home. August seeks work. But, August is a peasant lacking any useful skills. Work becomes tough to find.
The couple is also having trouble understanding America’s puritanical views on marriage. They find out; people look down at couples who are not married yet living together. August is especially bothered by this new moral code and fears incarceration.
Hilda finally finds work with a wealthy employer. She starts working for Harris Grail, played by Richard Morris. Harris has a wife Esther performed by Adele Farrington. Hilda discovers the Grails are a contented couple, but Ester is unable to have children. Hilda blends into the household and the Grails like their new employee. After working a while, Hilda comes to find out she is pregnant.
Harris and Ester also soon realize Hilda's condition. They also learn an unmarried Hilda is living with her boyfriend. The Grails can’t bear to have an unwed mother living in their household. They ask Hilda to leave and not return. Hilda doesn’t understand the decision of her puritanical hosts. In the old country, being an unwed mother is not viewed as a morality predicament.
Hilda is distraught. She worries America’s morality may ensnarl August. He could face prison. She doesn’t want to burden August with this load. Hilda leaves August and strikes out on her own. She will have the baby on your own.
Time passes, and Hilda finds herself in the hospital giving birth. A healthy boy is born. The law states a newborn’s parentage must register. The nurses ask the father’s name. Hilda refuses to tell them. The nurses insist. Hilda steals away in the night. She returns home but finds the cottage empty. She assumes the worst.
Unbeknownst to Hilda, after she left August, he stowed away on a tramp steamer heading for Europe. The ship sinks taking August down with it.
Hilda's situation is desperate. She decides to drown herself in the sea sans the baby. She places the baby boy in a basket and sets it afloat. She heads off to another part of the sea ready to take your own life.
Ester Grail is alone. Her beloved Harris murdered, and she is still childless. She believes she has no reason to live. Ester heads to the sea to end it all. Ester is wandering along the shore searching for a suitable spot to commit the deed. Then, she finds a baby floating in a basket. Thoughts are starting racing through her head. Was she handed a gift? She decides to raise the boy as her own. His adopted name will be Steven. Ester heads home.
How will Ester raise the boy? She needs help. She asked Hilda to be a nurse to take care of her boy. Ester doesn’t know Hilda is Steven’s biological mother. Hilda accepts the offer. Hilda has problems helping to raise a boy she knows his hers but unable to tell Ester. Hilda leaves Ester’s service after a while and moves on.
Some years pass, Hilda can’t bear to be without her son, returns to Ester’s house. She confronts Ester with the truth about Hilda being Steven's mother. They talk and Ester convinces Hilda the boy should stay with her. In that way, Steven would have all the advantages that wealth offers. Hilda agrees, Steven will stay with Ester, and Hilda’s motherhood will remain a secret.
Steven grows into manhood. Steven now played by Emory Johnson is an educated, articulate man ready for what the world offers him. He has a sweetheart named Marion played by Lois Wilson. Steven decides to run for governor.
Ester doesn't want Steven to have any skeletons in the closet. She tells him of his circumstances and adoption. Steven reacts by inserting a new plank in his political platform. He now wants to legitimatize all children of dubious parentage. Steven would allow them to have equal rights like the rest of us. He knows his ancestry is suspect and he decides not to propose marriage to the beautiful Marion.
Steven wins the election. He schedules an outdoor inauguration. All the principals arrive. Hilda has read about the event in the local newspaper. She longs for a glimpse of her son. Hilda attends the event. Steven is speaking to the crowd. He starts talking about his platform of legitimizing the underprivileged children.
A mesmerized Hilda is listing as her son speaks. Then, Hilda spots someone in the crowd with a gun. She believes he is some fanatic about to assassinate her son. Hilda rushes towards her son. The would-be assassin fires. Hilda jumps in front of her son at the last moment and takes the bullet.
The assassin subdued Steven rushes to Hilda. As she lay dying, her head in Steven’s lap, she tells her son she is his birth mother. Then a contented Hilda dies. Steven becomes overwhelmed by the sacrifices Hilda made for him. Marion who is nearby consoles, Steven. Marion then tells Steven his background doesn’t matter to her, she loves him, and they can wed.[3]
Cast
Actor Role Frank Whitson August Gretchen Lederer Hilda Richard Morris Harris Grail Adele Farrington Esther Grail Lois Wilson Marion Emory Johnson Steven
Preservation Status
No known copies of this film survive.[4][5]
References
- "The Morals of Hilda". catalog.afi.com.
- "The Morals of Hilda". www.tcm.com.
- "The Morals of Hilda". Motion Picture News. New York, Motion Picture News, Inc. December 1916. p. 3864.
- Progressive Silent Film List: The Morals of Hilda at silentera.com
- The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Morals Of Hilda / Lloyd B Carleton (motion picture)