A Wise Old Elephant (1913)
Colonel Haskins and his only daughter, Zara, live on a plantation to which the old soldier has retired. The adjoining plantation is owned by Robert Harding, a young English gentleman, who seeks his fortune in the cultivation of tea. He has just arrived in the country, and is not acquainted with his neighbors. Zara is a beautiful girl. She delights in outdoor life and is fond of taking morning rides on her big pet elephant, "Toddles." One morning she meets young Harding. He salutes her with a smile and she stops for a chat. It ends by her inviting him to join her in the howdah, "Toddles" assisting him to mount. As the result of this meeting Zara and Harding fall in love. About this time Lieut. Driscoll, an aristocratic officer, chances to call at the Haskins plantation, where he is royally entertained by the colonel. He is attracted by Zara's beauty and shows her marked attentions, much to her dislike. Her father is pleased, on the other hand, and shows the lieutenant that he favors his suit. Driscoll begs Zara to accompany him on a ride the following morning. She refuses; but he insists so strongly that Zara grows angry. Then he insultingly asks for a reason and she strikes him with her crop. Afterwards she mounts "Toddles" and soon joins young Harding. Driscoll, who has followed her stealthily on horseback, discovers the lovers and immediately carries the news to Colonel Haskins. The colonel is furious and rides at once to the rendezvous of the lovers. There he berates Harding and is about to strike him, when "Toddles" seizes him with his trunk. The next day the Colonel assures Driscoll that Zara will be his wife. Zara is called before the two men and indignantly refuses to obey her father. The latter threatens to force her. She notifies Harding and they elope. Lieut. Driscoll spies on their movements and conveys word to the colonel, who is seized with temporary apoplexy at the news. He recovers sufficiently to despatch Driscoll to prevent the clergyman from performing the ceremony. Driscoll arrives too late, as Zara and Harding are man and wife. Colonel Haskins refuses to receive Zara and renounces her. Three years elapse and the Harding household is blessed with a baby. Zara learns that her father, under the evil influence of Driscoll, is a victim of intemperance. She calls at the old home with her child, hoping for reconciliation; but her father refuses to receive her at the prompting of Driscoll. She calls again, with the same result. Now "Toddles" takes a hand. He carries the baby and the cradle in which it lies to the colonel. He places the cradle on the steps, but the colonel waves him away. "Toddles" shakes his trunk in token of refusal, and in brute language urges his master to take the child to his heart. The colonel gives in and takes up the cradle with its cooing burden. Then "Toddles" grasps his master's hand in his trunk and leads him to the Harding home.
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GenresDrama
Short
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Colin Campbell | Director |
| J. Edward Hungerford | Writer |
| William Nicholas Selig | Producer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Hobart Bosworth | |
| Herbert Rawlinson | |
| Al W. Filson | |
| Kathlyn Williams |
