Duty's primary photo
  • Duty (1911)
  • Short | Drama, Short
Primary photo for Duty
Duty (1911)
Short | Drama, Short
Homer Gardner, the light keeper, ascends the tower to light his lamps and soon after the mechanism that rotates the tower becomes useless, owing to a broken part. Gardner is appalled at the consequences. His wife is ill and he has no one ...See moreHomer Gardner, the light keeper, ascends the tower to light his lamps and soon after the mechanism that rotates the tower becomes useless, owing to a broken part. Gardner is appalled at the consequences. His wife is ill and he has no one to depend upon except his small son, Willie. Hastily summoning the boy, he assigns him the task of turning the tower, while he rows to the mainland in a skiff, to obtain repairs to the light. Bidding the child goodbye, he sets forth. The sea is rough, but he makes the first part of his journey without mishap, and sets out on the return trip. He runs his boat on a rock, and a plank is splintered. The boat rapidly fills and sinks and, he takes to the water and swims in the direction of the light. The boy becomes exhausted from his exertion. The mother notices that the light is not reflected seaward. She staggers up the steps, weak and ill, and finds Willie unconscious in the tower. She looks out upon the water and observes a ship headed for the rocks. She revolves the light and the ship is providentially saved. Gardner manages to drag himself up the slippery steps of the lighthouse and enters the living room, to find his wife gone. Staggering up the long and tedious stairway he finds her, exhausted, but still at her post, turning the light. Later, the captain of the vessel that was saved by Mrs. Gardner visits the light and presents the husband with a medal. The big-hearted keeper of the light in turn presents it to the brave woman who kept the light revolving. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less
Read more: Plot summary
Director
Thomas H. Ince
Producer
Carl Laemmle (producer)
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Sep 7, 1911
Release date
Sep 7, 1911 (United States)

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