The Artist's Joke (1912)
A wealthy artist lives in retirement in his country mansion with his only son, Charles, who is averse to country life and anxious to make his abode in the city where they raise brides instead of crops. One day a sketch club, consisting of a bevy of beauties, arrive by motor from the city to sketch the ruins of an old castle which they are at first unable to locate. Nell Travers, the leading spirit of the party, inquires at the mansion for direction and thus forms the acquaintance of Charles, who begs to be permitted to act as guide. She gladly accepts the proposition and introduces him to the other members of the Sketch Club, and together they proceed to the old ruins and after considerable discussion as to the best point of view, the tripods and canvases are finally placed and each girl's name written in bold type across the top of her canvas. It is noon and they decide to return to their motor car for luncheon, but Charles, having become enamored of Nell's charms, persuades her to meander in an opposite direction. The canvases being left alone, Charles' father, when he happens upon the scene, is unable to resist the temptation of carrying out a practical joke. He draws a caricature upon each canvas and in fiendish glee departs for home. When the girls return and discover their canvases unfit to work upon, they conclude that Nell, the missing one, must be the culprit and immediately depart for home in their motor, leaving Nell to get home as best she can. When Nell learns of the girls' sudden departure, the gallant Charles offers to drive her home in his trap. At the mansion she meets his jovial father and, seeing the various drawings about the house, she immediately suspects him of being the one who disfigured the girls' canvases. She makes the accusation and the old gentleman admits that he is the real culprit and humbly apologizes for his joke. Nell now starts for home escorted by Charles, and we can plainly see that he is no longer anxious for city life.
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GenresComedy
Short
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Harry Furniss | Writer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Harry Furniss | |
| Mary Fuller | |
| Willis Secord | |
| Gertrude McCoy |
