This Is th' Life (1914)
Farmer Brown, a man who clings to old ideas, is so set against the wheels of progress and modern science, that his son John is compelled to steal away from home to complete his education in electricity. In contrast, Brown's neighbor, Farmer Miller, installs modern ideas and machinery. His farm products and stock thrive and bring great results, and his daughter Rita can attend boarding school. Rita and John are sweethearts and Rita applauds and encourages John in his struggle toward progression. John becomes a genius and invents many electrical meters and a powerful X-ray, but time nor success will soften his father's heart or reconcile them. Miller even lightens his wife's household burdens by installing electrical washing and ironing devices, while Brown's frail daughter, Mary, is a slave to the heat and drudgery of the old methods of housekeeping. One day Mary, while lifting a heavy wash boiler strains her back and falls to the floor. Brown finds her and for the first time fully realizes the necessity of a telephone. Rita just home on her vacation comes to his aid and rushing over home summons a doctor, then by long distance summons John to bring a surgeon and his new X-ray. The country doctor announces that Mary has suffered a paralytic stroke and will never recover. Brown's heart is crushed, but the next day John and the surgeon arrive. After an examination the surgeon declares to Brown that through the aid of the wonderful X-ray and modern science his daughter will be permanently restored to health. The wedding day of Rita and John arrives and Brown's gift to the couple is in the nature of a new home completely equipped electrically even to the stove and cooking utensils. He becomes a convert to progress and modern science, and declaring, "this is th' life," takes his neighbor Miller for a drive in his own electric car.
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GenresShort
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Henry Otto | Director |
| Theodosia Harris | Writer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Edward Coxen | |
| Charlotte Burton | |
| George Field | |
| John Steppling |
