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Charles H. West (center).
Frame enlargement: Silent Era image collection.
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A Flash of Light
(1910) United States of America
B&W : One reel / 998 feet
Directed by D.W. Griffith
Cast: Charles H. West [Mr. John Rogers Jr., the young chemist], Vivian Prescott [Belle], Stephanie Longfellow [the older sister], Verner Clarges [the father], Joe Graybill (Joseph Graybill) [Horace Dooley], William J. Butler [a doctor], Anthony O’Sullivan [a servant], William C. Robinson (W.C. Robinson) [a servant], Kate Toncray [a servant], Grace Henderson [a visitor], Edward Dillon [a man at the first party], Claire McDowell [a woman at the first party], Dorothy West [a woman at the first party], Jack Dillon (John T. Dillon) [a man at the first party; and a man at the second party], Guy Hedlund [a man at the first party; and a man at the second party], Ruth Hart [a woman at the second party], Charles Craig [a member of the wedding party], Alfred Paget [a member of the wedding party], Gertrude Robinson [a member of the wedding party], Mack Sennett [a member of the wedding party], George Siegmann [a member of the wedding party], George O. Nicholls (George Nichols) [?] [a doctor and/or a member of the wedding party]?, [?] Henry Lehrman? [a man at the second party], [?] Owen Moore? [a member of the wedding party], [?] Dorothy Bernard?, [?] Jeanie Macpherson?, [?] Mary Pickford?, [?] Blanche Sweet?
Biograph Company production; distributed by Biograph Company. / Scenario by Stanner E.V. Taylor. Cinematography by G.W. Bitzer. / © 20 July 1910 by Biograph Company [J143387]. Released 18 July 1910. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? John Rogers, a young chemist, is sincerely loved by the eldest of two sisters, but in a state of infatuation prefers the younger girl, fascinated by what he would call vivacity, but which is nothing less than frivolousness. He marries her, and she soon tires of a life of domesticity. He tries to interest her in his chemical experiments but they simply bore her, although they are interesting to the sister, which interest is born of a pure love which she still holds. While he is working in his laboratory, the wife is either entertaining or being entertained by friends. She is in her element at a dinner party, when an explosion takes place in her husband’s laboratory, apparently destroying his sight and hearing. It is a sad house she returns to after her evening’s pleasure. There is her husband, deaf and sightless. You may imagine her lot is now more repugnant, as his helplessness annoys her, so she eagerly accepts diversion. This comes in the form of an offer from one of her friends, a theater manager, to shine on the comic opera stage. She accepts the offer and on the persuasion of this friend decides to leave her husband and get a divorce, leaving her wedding ring on the table for her sister or father-in-law to find. The sister sees her action, and tries to dissuade her, but in vain. The thought of this second and worse blow to the young man moves the sister to wear the ring, deceiving him until his affliction has passed, for the doctor is sure of restoring his sight and hearing. This deception is easy, as he can neither see nor hear and is ever under hands of the nurse. The operation promises to be successful, so the sister goes to the green room of the theater to bring the wife back. After a heated argument the wife consents to go and see him at least, arriving just as he is placed in a darkened room to have the bandage removed. When the bandage is taken off, the young man sees in the dim light of the room the figures about him. He turns from one to the other until he sees his wife and makes a move towards her, but she with guilty mien recoils and as she does, clutches the portieres nervously. Down they come, letting in a fatal flash of light from the outside, striking the poor fellow's eyes, causing now incurable blindness. Realizing what she has done, she rushes horror-stricken from the house. The young man’s hearing unimpaired, he learns the truth and now feels in his heart what he failed to see with his eyes.
Survival status: Prints exist in private film collections [16mm reduction positives].
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Accidents: Explosions - Blindness - Deafness - Handwriting - Letters - Marriages
Listing updated: 1 January 2025.
References: Film credits, film viewing : Barry-Griffith p. 42; Spehr-American p. 2 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
Home video: DVD.
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