Through the Breakers | 1909 | Drama

Title: Through the Breakers | 1909 | Drama Director: D. W. Griffith Studio: Biograph Company Starring: James Kirkwood, Marion Leonard, Adele De Garde Release Date: December 6, 1909 Format: Silent; black-and-white; 1 reel ; 1.33:1 Country: United States Language: Silent Genres: Drama --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Domestic contentment 00:02:45 Social distractions 00:05:30 Illness and warning 00:08:15 Night of the dance 00:10:30 Tragedy and reconciliation --- Summary: A fashionable couple gradually neglects their young daughter as business and society engagements take precedence at home. When the child falls gravely ill, the father pleads for his wife to remain by the girl’s side, but she slips away to attend a dance. During the mother’s absence the child dies, forcing the couple to confront the consequences of their choices. The film explores themes of parental responsibility, the emptiness of social vanity, and remorse leading toward reconciliation. --- Background: Produced by the Biograph Company during D. W. Griffith’s prolific 1909 period, this one-reel domestic drama was released on December 6, 1909. The scenario is credited to Stanner E. V. Taylor, and contemporary sources place production at Biograph’s regular New Jersey locations, including Edgewater. Surviving prints indicate the film’s typical Biograph technical profile of the era: silent, black-and-white, and approximately one reel in length. --- Trivia: Biograph registered copyright for the film on December 8, 1909 , a common practice for the company’s late-1900s releases. The cast pairs Marion Leonard and James Kirkwood, two frequent Griffith players, with child actress Adele De Garde in the pivotal role of the daughter. The film appeared during a dense December 1909 Biograph slate that also included titles such as The Death Disc, The Red Man’s View, and A Corner in Wheat. Multiple sources list Edgewater, New Jersey, as a filming location, reflecting Biograph’s regular use of nearby exteriors while operating out of Manhattan. A print of the film is held by the Library of Congress, ensuring its survival and occasional modern access. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: December 6, 1909 Original Studio / Distributor: Biograph Company Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: ThroughTheBreakers DWGriffith Biograph SilentFilm PublicDomain 1909 MarionLeonard JamesKirkwood AdeleDeGarde Source page: https: //www.loc.gov/item/2014600156/ Direct media URL: https: //tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/mbrs/ntscrm/00013955/00013955.mp4