The Awakening of Helena Ritchie - Production & Contact Info

The Awakening of Helena Ritchie (1916)
50 min | Drama

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The Awakening of Helena Ritchie (1916)

50 min | Drama

To the village of Old Chester comes Helena Richie in search of balm for a broken heart. Her dissolute husband, in a drunken rage, has killed their little child. This tragedy induces Helena to listen to the pleadings of Lloyd Pryor to leave...See moreTo the village of Old Chester comes Helena Richie in search of balm for a broken heart. Her dissolute husband, in a drunken rage, has killed their little child. This tragedy induces Helena to listen to the pleadings of Lloyd Pryor to leave Paris, where the Richies are living, and come to America with him. Pryor makes frequent visits to Helena in the little home he establishes for her in Chester, and the townspeople accept the statement that he is her brother. Old Benjamin Wright, however, has his own suspicions as to the relations between the two. His interest is more than a casual one, for his grandson, Sam Wright, a young poet, is in love with Helena. The old man tells him his belief with regard to Mrs. Richie. Sam asks her whether the suspicion has any foundation, and when she admits that it has he kills himself. Dr. Lavendar, the kindly old minister, has in his charge a child who needs a home. He has decided to send the little boy, David, to Mrs. Richie for a trial visit. She welcomes the boy, who fills the place in her heart left vacant by the death of her own child. Her heart becomes bound up in the boy, though she is torn by conflicting emotions by the thought of her own false position. Helena's husband has been in such feeble health, owing to his dissipations, that she has constantly expected his death to release her so that she and Pryor may be married. Finally the long-expected event happens, but Pryor has tired of her. His promise of marriage has been nothing but a ruse to get her to elope with him. Looking about for an excuse to break the bonds which have become irksome to him, he tells her that she must give up David. She refuses and he says she must choose between the child and himself. Realizing Pryor's unworthiness, she clings to the child, and Pryor leaves her. Helena goes to Dr. Lavendar, tells him the truth about her past relations with Pryor, and asks him to let her keep the child with her always. The old man's answer is: "Can you teach him to tell the truth, you who have lived a lie? Can you make him brave, you who could not endure? Can you make him honorable, you who have deceived all?" Helena is silent in the face of this accusation. She decides to give David up and to leave Old Chester. She tells Dr. Lavendar that on her way to the station next day she will come to bid David goodbye. Next day at the rectory Dr. Lavendar asks her to take with her a parcel which she will find wrapped up in the coach. She promises, and in the coach finds the package to be little David, all wrapped up for traveling. Her willingness to sacrifice her own happiness for the boy has proved her worthiness to keep him, and Helena and little David leave Old Chester to find peace among new surroundings. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
13 cast members

Name	Known for
Ethel Barrymore Helena Richie Helena Richie See fewer	The Spiral Staircase (1946)
Robert Cummings Lloyd Pryor Lloyd Pryor See fewer	The Running Fight (1915)
Frank Montgomery Benjamin Wright Benjamin Wright See fewer	So's Your Old Man (1926)
James A. Furey Dr. Lavendar (as J.A. Furey) Dr. Lavendar (as J.A. Furey) See fewer	The Climbers (1919)
Maurice Steuart Little David (as Maury Steuart) Little David (as Maury Steuart) See fewer	Vanity Fair (1915)
Hassan Mussalli Sam Wright Sam Wright See fewer	The Ventures of Marguerite (1915)
William A. Williams Deacon Wright (as William Williams) Deacon Wright (as William Williams) See fewer	Heart of Gold (1919)
Robert Whittier Frederick Richie Frederick Richie See fewer	Master Shakespeare, Strolling Player (1916)
Charles Goodrich Dr. King Dr. King See fewer	The Show-Off (1926)
Hattie Delaro Mrs. King Mrs. King See fewer	For the Honor of the Crew (1915)
Mary Asquith Mrs. Wright Mrs. Wright See fewer	Life's Shop Window (1914)
Kathleen Townsend Actress Actress See fewer	The Stolen Triumph (1916)
George Cummings Actor Actor See fewer	Alias Jimmy Valentine (1915)