A Chance in Life - Production & Contact Info

A Chance in Life (1914)
Short | 11 min | Short, Drama

A Chance in Life (1914)

Short | 11 min | Short, Drama

Convict Frank Deacon vows that if he ever gets a chance he will lead a straight life. His conduct in prison is so good that his term is shortened and he goes out into the world. He finds that most doors are closed on the ex-convict. When ...See moreConvict Frank Deacon vows that if he ever gets a chance he will lead a straight life. His conduct in prison is so good that his term is shortened and he goes out into the world. He finds that most doors are closed on the ex-convict. When he gets work the prison warden passes, sees him, and shakes his hand. Then the man who engaged Frank steps up and asks if he's an ex-convict. The warden, Burton, reluctantly admits that he is. Frank is once more cast out. He decides to take to the open road, to be a tramp. He passes the doorway of a cottage where a mother still waits at the gate for a long-dead son. When Frank comes along, weary and haggard, she thinks him her son and takes him into her arms. Her daughter Mary comes out and tells him that he must stay; the shock of his leaving will kill her mother. So Frank consents to take the dead brother's place. As time passes he rises and prospers until he has become station agent. Two years later Bill and John, who were pals of Frank's in jail, are released. They throw away the few dollars they have and, wanting to make a big haul, decide to rob the limited. To this end they pile logs upon the tracks. Then they go down to hold up the station master and find he is Frank. They are glad to see him and want to bring him in on their game. But he refuses until, angered, they tie him firmly to the table. In the meantime Mary has been closed into the large vault at the jewelry store where she works by the jeweler's little boy who has been left in her charge, his father being called to the next town. The child, unable to open the safe, rushes out to find Frank. Burton has left the jail and, with a friend, is riding along near the tracks in a motorcar. He sees the piled logs and knows what they mean. He and his friend, with the assistance of some others, commence to unpile them. The child arrives at the station and unties Frank. John and Bill, coming along the tracks, see the crowd and run. Burton and his friend follow. John and Bill see Frank go into the jeweler's and rush in after him. They demand that Frank help them. He cannot get the safe open, then suddenly remembers and pretends to Bill that he will help them, but when he gets close enough he grabs the other man's gun and, holding both up, forces Bill, who is a professional safe opener, to sense the combination of the vault. Burton and his crowd arrive and Frank turns the revolver on them, advising none to move until the safe is opened. When it is and Mary reels out into Frank's arms, Burton understands. He takes John and Bill into custody, looks at Frank, but says nothing. Frank gets his glance and understands that his past will be a closed book, and having proved to himself that he is proof against temptation, he feels justified in declaring his love for Mary. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
8 cast members

Name	Known for
Edgar Jones Frank Deacon Frank Deacon See fewer	Lonesome Corners (1922)
Louise Huff Mary Mary See fewer	Seventeen (1916)
Brinsley Shaw Actor Actor See fewer	Arsene Lupin (1917)
Eleanor Barry Actress Actress See fewer	Heartaches (1915)
Edward DeWolff Actor Actor See fewer	A Chance in Life (1914)
Elizabeth Bobbs Actress Actress See fewer	Her Wayward Sister (1916)
Will Hartzell Actor (as William Hartzell) Actor (as William Hartzell) See fewer	The Dream of a Moving Picture Director (1912)
George Gowan Actor Actor See fewer	The Engineer's Revenge (1914)