The Spreading Evil - Cast

The Spreading Evil (1918)
Drama

The Spreading Evil (1918)

Drama

Dr. John Carey, a noted blood specialist, convinces philanthropist Jules Le Moyne to finance Berlin chemist Emil Hartsell's search for a cure for syphilis. Hartsell's research proves successful, but following Le Moyne's death, the chemist ...See moreDr. John Carey, a noted blood specialist, convinces philanthropist Jules Le Moyne to finance Berlin chemist Emil Hartsell's search for a cure for syphilis. Hartsell's research proves successful, but following Le Moyne's death, the chemist breaks his pledge to give the formula to society and contracts with New York profiteer Adolph Keller to sell the drug at a price prohibitive to the poor. Representing his father in New York, Karl Hartsell becomes engaged to Keller's daughter, Alice. Meanwhile, Lennon Morrett, an artist's model, contracts syphilis from roué M. Saccard, but can't afford the drug. When Dr. Carey is about to intercede and obtain the drug for her, Keller instead sells it to Saccard. Believing that society is responsible for her fate, Lennon sleeps with a lot of men. She blames Karl because his father has made the drug too expensive, and during his bachelor's fling before the wedding, she gives him the disease. Dr. Carey meets the elder Hartsell in Holland and pleads for the drug to be distributed cheaply in America, but Hartsell says America means nothing to him. Although Dr. Carey finally persuades the greedy scientist of his son's illness, Hartsell refuses to give Carey the formula and arranges to treat Karl himself in New York. Because the United States and Germany are at war, Hartsell's submarine is torpedoed off the New York coast, whereupon Karl walks into the waves to join his drowned father. Later, U.S. scientists discover a cure superior to the German formula. Written by AFI See less

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10 cast members

Name	Known for
Leo Pierson Karl Hartsell Karl Hartsell See fewer	The Birth of Patriotism (1917)
Irene Wylie Alice Keller Alice Keller See fewer	The Spreading Evil (1918)
Howard Davies Emil Hartsell Emil Hartsell See fewer	Wanted at Headquarters (1920)
Carolyn Wagner Lennon Morrett (as Carlyn Wagner) Lennon Morrett (as Carlyn Wagner) See fewer	Midnight Riders
Joseph Clancy Adolph Keller Adolph Keller See fewer	The Spreading Evil (1918)
William Hackett Dr. John Carey (as William A. Hackett) Dr. John Carey (as William A. Hackett) See fewer	Perils of the West (1922)
George B. Williams Jules Le Moyne (as G.B. Williams) Jules Le Moyne (as G.B. Williams) See fewer	The Winner (1926)
Quex Bellamy M. Saccard M. Saccard See fewer	The Spreading Evil (1918)
Josephus Daniels Self (as Honorable Josephus Daniels) Self (as Honorable Josephus Daniels) See fewer	The Nation's Peril (1915)
James Keane Self Self See fewer	Richard III (1912)