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The Fishermaid of Ballydavid
(1911) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by Sidney Olcott
Cast: Gene Gauntier [Kathleen, the fishermaid of Ballydavid], Jack J. Clark (J.J. Clark) [Henry Rhodes], J.P. McGowan
Kalem Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Released 17 November 1911. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Kathleen, the daughter of an honest Irish fisherman, meets Henry, the son of a New York broker, who is on a tour through the Emerald Isle. Kathleen’s father, returning from the beach sees the two lovers embrace. On Kathleen’s return home her father upbraids her and tells her she must have nothing more to do with the stranger, that he is far above her in worldly possessions and that there acquaintance can come to no good end. Believing her father is unjust in his judgment she becomes angry and decides to go to America and search out her Yankee sweetheart. We see her on the rear deck of the steamer as she takes a last view of her old home. Her courage is strong, however, and she contents herself with her own surroundings, believing she is going to the man who will love and protect her. Arriving in New York she starts on her search, which proves fruitless. As night approaches she becomes exhausted and sits down on the steps of a house, where she quickly falls asleep and is found by a good-natured policeman, who takes her to his own home and places her in the care of his tenderhearted wife. The next morning Henry Rhodes, while at the breakfast table, reads in his newspaper the story of Kathleen, the little Irish girl, who has come in search of her American lover. Hastily leaving the table he goes to the house of the policeman and asks to see Kathleen. On her appearance he explains to her that their past association in Ireland was merely a summer flirtation. This nearly crushes the heart of the trusting Irish maid. Henry forces a roll of bills in the hands of the policeman and tells him to pay her passage back to Ireland. We next see the chastened girl wending her way up the one street of the little Irish village to her father’s home. Entering the door with her head bowed in sorrow for her hasty flight, she is welcomed by her good old father and mother.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 2 December 1911, page ?] This picture is very commendable on nearly every count except photography. The situation is natural and human and is developed without too much delay. The backgrounds are pleasing, fresh, and interesting in themselves; yet they are not obtrusive and add local color to the story without burdening it. It was to be expected that any situation in which Gene Gauntier led would be well acted; this picture of a rather passionate, but cleanhearted Irish girl is extremely well acted. It is not a tragic picture and it has a pleasant ending. The girl makes a pathetic figure on board ship, especially on her way back from America and in the sunset scene which is especially commendable; but she was too human to be broken- hearted by her disillusioning. She had fallen in love with an American tourist (he had kissed her) and had followed him across the sea only to find that he didn’t love her. She marries her Irish lover. It is all convincingly and clearly set forth. We understand and sympathize with it all.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 10 November 2022.
References: McIlroy-Ireland pp. 6, 177 : Website-IMDb.
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