His Excellency (1914)
Andres Sepulveda, president of a small Latin-American republic, has attained his high office at the age of twenty-five. The cares and responsibilities of office weigh upon him and he longs for a taste of freedom. In one of his fits of despondency he happens to see from a window of his palace a group of strolling musicians and he contrasts their condition with his. He resolves to doff his uniform and replace it with the dress of the common people, and to take a vacation during which he may act like the most carefree of his subjects. Changing his clothes, he slips out of the palace. He sees a street brawl wherein two intoxicated men set upon an unoffending boy. The president goes to the lad's rescue and beats off his assailants. This leads later to his meeting Inez Garcia, the sister of the boy. Between Inez and the young president, whose identity she does not suspect, there quickly grows a strong bond of attraction and he becomes a visitor at her home. One afternoon be takes her to a secluded part of the Plaza and asks her to be his wife. Although willing to accept him, she coquettishly puts him off, telling him to come to her house next day for his answer. Next day, while the president is on his way to visit her, Inez's father, a private in the army, is arrested on a charge of political conspiracy. When Andres arrives the father has just been taken away and the girl is in tears. He tries to comfort her and then, as a happy thought comes to him, urges her to go to the president and tell him her troubles. She demurs, saying that she would not dare to commit such a bold act, but he persuades her, promising to go with her. On the way Sepulveda makes an excuse to drop into a district police station. He sends a message, ordering that the prisoner be released and taken to the executive office. Arriving at the palace, the girl becomes frightened at the guards and holds back expecting to be stopped, but to her astonishment they salute. She is puzzled and asks for an explanation, but Andres refuses. At the governor's office they are admitted by the secretary, who takes his cue from the president's wink. When the father is brought in the girl rushes into his arms. Then she hears the secretary respectfully address her companion as "Your Excellency" and the truth bursts upon her. She attempts to kiss his hand, but he draws her into his arms and insists upon having his answer.
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| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Paul Powell | Director |
| Siegmund Lubin | Producer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Tom Forman | |
| Dolly Larkin | |
| Henry King | |
| Joe De La Cruz |
