The Man That Might Have Been - Cast

The Man That Might Have Been (1914)
Short | Short, Drama

Primary photo for The Man That Might Have Been

The Man That Might Have Been (1914)

Short | Short, Drama

A profound psychological study of a bereaved father's mind. William Rudd, a mild-mannered shoe clerk in a small country town, loses both wife and new-born son. Crazed with grief, he is only prevented by main force from jumping into the ...See moreA profound psychological study of a bereaved father's mind. William Rudd, a mild-mannered shoe clerk in a small country town, loses both wife and new-born son. Crazed with grief, he is only prevented by main force from jumping into the open grave. Without personal ambition himself, he constantly dwells upon what might have been, had his dear ones lived. During his solitary evenings, after a hard day's work in the store he evolves a dream of his departed child, whom he calls Eric, whoso growth keeps pace with that of Kittredge, his employer's son. When Kittredge, Junior, cuts new teeth, Rudd imagines his own child is undergoing the same process; when young Kittredge buys his first pair of boy's shoes, the old man dreams he is fitting his sturdy Eric with a brand new pair, and so on, all through the early life of the child. He follows Eric in his career through school, college and politics. On the night of a Presidential election, he dreams Eric reaches the apotheosis of his father's hopes, and achieves the Presidency. As Rudd dreams of the procedure of his son from childhood to manhood, each and every incident is pictured as clearly to our eyes as they are to his mind. All through his vision, his wife always appears as he remembers her, while he himself changes through the years that bring about the metamorphosis of his child. The following morning, when Rudd does not appear at the store, his employer goes to his home and there finds Rudd dead in his chair, a smile of satisfaction overspreading his careworn face. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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4 cast members

Name	Known for
William Humphrey William Rudd William Rudd See fewer	Atonement (1919)
Leah Baird Mrs. William Rudd Mrs. William Rudd See fewer	Don't Doubt Your Wife (1922)
Leo Delaney Eric Rudd Eric Rudd See fewer	As You Like It (1912)
Anders Randolf Kittredge Kittredge See fewer	The Viking (1928)