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All’s Fair in Love and War
(1910) United States of America
B&W : Short film
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: Colonel John Singleton Mosby
The Capitol Film Company production; distributed by [?] Motion Picture Distributing & Sales Company and/or A.G. Whyte? / © 8 October 1910 by The Capitol Film Company [J146805]. Released 8 October 1910. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / Mosby of Mosby’s Marauders portrayed himself in this story.
Drama: Historical: Civil War.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Helen Mosby was very happily situated in her southern home, the idolized daughter of her father, and the pet of the younger set. She had never worried her pretty head with any thoughts of politics, so that, one afternoon, as she strolled with her father in the garden, she was immeasurably shocked when a servant handed him a telegram which read: “War is declared; your regiment ordered to Richmond. Report at once, GENERAL LEE.” However, she took the shock like a true southerner, and when her cousin, Henry Bowie, appeared, dressed in the uniform of a Confederate lieutenant, she complimented him smilingly on his appearance; then her father joins them, clad in his gray frock coat, sash and sabre, and bids her farewell. Hardly has her father gone, when Arthur Boone, who has long been in love with Helen, enters the garden. Helen rises to greet him, but draws back in horror as she sees him in a Union uniform. Arthur does not notice this, however, and proposes to her, but Helen’s answer is a strong negative. “I can never marry a man who fights in the Union army!” Sadly Arthur leaves, bidding her farewell and shaking hands warmly with Henry, who has long been his friend. Four years later a detachment of the Northern army is pushed back by Southern sharpshooters, under Lieutenant Bowie. Arthur Boone is the last one of the Northerners to retreat; he fights until his ammunition is exhausted, and then runs through the woods, with the Southerners bot after him. Lieutenant Bowie, not knowing that it is his old friend, follows close on his heels. Right to the old Mosby mansion Arthur runs, and vaults through the open window. Helen Mosby jumps from the chair she had been occupying and levels a gun, which she recognizes her lover. He tells her of his predicament, and although she is torn between her emotions of love and duty, love finally conquers, and she hides him in a closet, just as Henry Bowie, sabre in hand, comes into the room. He greets his cousin pleasantly and tells her that they believe a Union officer has entered her house. She shakes her head, but allows him to search, which he does thoroughly, even though the very closet where Arthur is hiding, but in prodding the clothes with his sabre, he missed the Union officer, and goes away satisfied that the officer, whoever he was, has made good his escape. Then, the next day, the shoe is on the other foot; Henry Bowie is pursued by Union men, under Arthur Boone. Henry, too, makes for his cousin’s house. She hides him, and then steps out onto the porch; as yet, no one is in sight, Rushing back into the room, she hastily dons a Southern uniform that has been in her possession for some time, and then, looking out the window, she sees the Union soldiers surrounding the house. When they have surrounded, Helen, in her man’s attire, steals out by a side entrance. They soon discover her, however, and she leads them a merry chase, only to return by a different route to the house, and, gaining on them, reaching the house she tears off the uniform, and when the Union soldiers enter, only a tired little Southern girl stands before them. They demand the prisoner. She protests innocence. Then they arrest her. This is too much for the concealed cousin, and he emerges from his hiding place with a bound, and he, too, is caught in the grasp of the law. Henry is sentenced to be shot. He is guarded by a lone sentry. Helen escapes from her place of imprisonment, and smiling sweetly at the sentry, induces him to look the other way while she has a word with her cousin; she slips him a small piece of wire with which he picks the lock in his fetters. Then Helen goes away and returns in the uniform of a Southern lieutenant. Henry steals away and Helen takes his place. Shortly after the firing squad arrive, then it is discovered that they have the wrong man. When Captain Boone hears of it he orders that they shoot the substitute. Standing erect, they bind her eyes, tie her hands behind her back, and just then, two soldiers enter with Henry. “Let them both be shot!” are the Captain's orders, not noting in his rage that it is his old friend. The guns are leveled. “Ready, aim . . .” but before the word “Fire!” is given a messenger dashes up and hands a dispatch to Arthur: “The war is over. U.S. GRANT. Commander. U.S.A.” Then Arthur commands the firing squad to halt, and as he approaches the prisoners he is violently surprised to see his old friend Henry. Going to him, he takes both his hands: “Thank God, those bullets were not fired!” Henry explains who Helen is. Arthur turns to her in amazement, saluting, she takes off her cap. Then Arthur holds out his arms, and only too willingly does the little southerner enter them, for in union there is strength.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: History: USA: American Civil War (1861-1865)
Listing updated: 3 January 2025.
References: Pitts-Hollywood p. 219 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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