Armadale - Production & Contact Info

Armadale (1916)
Short | Short, Drama

Armadale (1916)

Short | Short, Drama

The story opens with Alan Armadale, Sr., on his deathbed. With him are his wife, his infant son and family physician. They have been traveling but are forced to stop through the serious condition of the senior Armadale. Calling for a ...See moreThe story opens with Alan Armadale, Sr., on his deathbed. With him are his wife, his infant son and family physician. They have been traveling but are forced to stop through the serious condition of the senior Armadale. Calling for a lawyer, that his confession may be legal, Armadale tells the following story: At the age of twenty-one he had taken the name and become sole heir to the Armadale fortune. The legal son of the house had been cast out because of disgrace he brought upon the family name. The adopted son falls in love with a Miss Blanchard through her photograph. At the same time he meets a young chap called Inglesby, who in reality is the blood son of the house of Armadale. The two men become friendly, and Armadale, in a burst of confidence, tells Inglesby of his infatuation for Miss Blanchard. Shortly afterwards Armadale is stricken with fever. Upon Armadale's recovery he learns that his friend Inglesby has gone away. The young lover leaves shortly for Madeira, to meet and woo the unknown Miss Blanchard. He arrives at the home of the girl only to learn that Inglesby had been there before, and that the two were now husband and wife. The outlawed son, Inglesby, had recognized the foster son, Armadale, and had, through stealing from him the girl of his choice, repaid in full measure the loss of his own fortune and name. Meeting Inglesby, Armadale learns that he has married the former Miss Blanchard under the name of Armadale, the girl thinking him to be the foster son and heir. The two men exchange cards and a duel is arranged. In the meantime, Inglesby confesses to his wife the truth of his assumed inheritance. The wife accompanies him in quick flight aboard ship. When Armadale arrives at the beach chosen for the duel he learns that Inglesby has taken flight. Quickly pursuing him, in a swift yacht, he arrives to find the ship carrying the fleeing Inglesby, his wife and her young maid, a victim of a big storm at sea. Armadale, in the pursuing boat, gives quick aid to the passengers, rescuing Mrs. Inglesby and maid among the first. Inglesby returned to the cabin to find his wife's jewels. Armadale followed him there, and locked him in the stateroom. Inglesby thus perished. His wife and her maid escape and drop out of the life of Armadale, who marries later and has a son. This is the confession of Armadale. It is followed by his dramatic death. The story then deals with the fortunes of the son of the adopted Armadale, known as Midwinter, and the son of the disinherited Armadale of the earlier story who now enjoys the name of his forefathers as well as Armadale fortune. Legally, Midwinter should have the position. Mrs. Armadale, née Blanchard, has been a party to the crime of her drowned husband in failing to disclose the proper heir to the millions. She is devoted to her son, but endures a fearful menace in the person of a mysterious veiled woman who pays her visits frequently to collect hush money. The veiled visitor is the erstwhile maid who had been Mrs. Armadale's companion on the fateful sea flight when the husband was drowned. Armadale, the son, is out riding one day when he chances upon a stranger, hungry and exhausted. The former takes the stranger into a nearby inn and cares for him. Upon the latter's recovery he tells his benefactor that his name is Midwinter. Armadale gives his name. Midwinter recognizes in his friend the man who is keeping him out of his rightful inheritance, but because he knows, too, of his own father's share in the death of Armadale's father, Midwinter decides to allow his friend uninterrupted enjoyment of his wealth and position. Midwinter becomes a guest in the Armadale home. Mrs. Armadale recognizes him, but fears to make her discovery known. One night, from his room, Armadale sees the figure of a woman dancing gaily and with abandon on the moonlit lawn of a neighbor's home. He is vastly attracted to the girl and makes an effort to meet her. She vanishes however, leaving a gauzy veil in her trail. The following day Armadale calls upon his neighbor in the hope that the fair dancer may have been the daughter of the house. Instead, she is the governess, known as Miss Gwilt. Armadale is deeply infatuated. In the meantime his mother has died, and with her one link that might bind the boy to the secret of his false position. Midwinter in the meantime has discovered that Miss Gwilt is no other than the young girl who acted as maid to Mrs. Armadale on the sea voyage when the deception as to legal rights was practiced. That she is a schemer is plain to Midwinter but Armadale will hear nothing against his promised wife. It is at this point that Midwinter finds his big opportunity to repay to the son the debt he owes him. Midwinter captures the fancy of Miss Gwilt and is caught by Armadale leaving her bed chamber late at night. Armadale is prostrated by the shock. He has recently drawn up his will, preparatory to his marriage, naming Miss Gwilt as his heiress. The woman knows this, and, in one last attempt to gain the wealth she has struggled so hard to win, attempts to poison the sleeping Armadale. Midwinter frustrates her plan and at the same time unveils to the eyes of the believing Armadale the duplicity of his former fiancée. The sound, lasting friendship that springs up between the sons of the two men who had fought and struggled to injure each other, comes as a pleasant climax to the story. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
11 cast members

Name	Known for
John Mackin Neal, a Lawyer Neal, a Lawyer See fewer	The Ventures of Marguerite (1915)
Henry W. Pemberton Alan Armadale, Sr. Alan Armadale, Sr. See fewer	The Dead Line (1920)
Lucile Taft Mrs. Armadale, Sr. (as Lucille Taft) Mrs. Armadale, Sr. (as Lucille Taft) See fewer	The Idol of the Stage (1916)
Henry Chira The Doctor The Doctor See fewer	Armadale (1916)
John Reinhardt Alan Armadale, Jr. (as John Reinhard) Alan Armadale, Jr. (as John Reinhard) See fewer	Feathertop (1916)
Kathleen Butler Miss Blanchard / Mrs. Armadale, Jr. Miss Blanchard / Mrs. Armadale, Jr. See fewer	McVeagh of the South Seas (1914)
Alexander Gaden Ozias Midwinter Ozias Midwinter See fewer	The Skull (1914)
Iva Shepard The Maid The Maid See fewer	While the Children Slept (1913)
Robert Clugston Inglesby Inglesby See fewer	The Hunting of the Hawk (1917)
James Levering Reverend Decimus Brock Reverend Decimus Brock See fewer	Kidnapped (II) (1917)
Charles W. Travis Major Milroy Major Milroy See fewer	The Quality of Faith (1916)