Pull for the Shore, Sailor! (1911)
"The Madonna of the Tubs," as Elizabeth Stuart Phelps has called her principal character, is simply a washerwoman who lives on the outskirts of a fishing village with her husband and children. All goes well with the little family until Henry left on a fishing voyage. The night before he was induced by his comrades to take a drink. He was not in the habit of doing so, but it was parting, and so he yielded to their wishes; as usual, one glass led to another. Finally be arrived home, his head in a muddle, mad at himself and all the world. A quarrel with his wife ensued and he left the home in anger. He had scarcely gone before the little mother realized what it meant, and out in the night she called for him, but he heard her not and the ship sailed away. Then the story pictures the tragedy of the deep, the terrible fog that calls so many victims home. We see two fishermen in their little dory out in the open sea. Then the quiet, solemn fog steals around them and blots out everything. Their comrades call from the ship, but receive no answering call. Finally the fog lifts and the little dory with its two human beings is alone on the great ocean. Days pass by and Henry alone survives. The news of the disaster has reached the ears of the "Madonna of the Tubs," and we see her and the children anxiously scanning the sea for Henry's ship to return. A few days later David, the crippled boy, sings "Pull for the Shore," the song they sang so much before the father left. The mother stops her work, goes to the little organ and plays the song for him. Here the scene fades and changes to the father at sea, hopeless and alone. The inspiration seems to reach him and he takes up the struggle again. Along the horizon a sail is seen. He signals it and is saved. We then see the mother on Christmas Eve, trying to cheer the children with a tiny Christmas tree. Poverty has settled around them, but a kind friend sends in a Christmas box and livens up the mourners. The greatest joy of all comes when the door bursts open and the father rushes in and fondly embraces his little family.
All Releases
Domestic
–
–
International
–
–
Worldwide
–
–
GenresDrama
Short
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
