The Claim (1918 film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Leighton Osmun
by
- Charles Kenyon
- Frank Dare
| The Claim | |
|---|---|
.png) Advertisement from Motion Picture News | |
| Directed by | Frank Reicher |
| Written by | June Mathis Leighton Osmun |
| Based on | the play, "The Claim" by
|
| Produced by | B. A. Rolfe |
| Starring | Edith Storey Wheeler Oakman Mignon Anderson |
| Cinematography | William C. Thompson |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 5 reels |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | Silent English intertitles |
The Claim is a 1918 American silent Western film directed by Frank Reicher. It stars Edith Storey, Wheeler Oakman, and Mignon Anderson, and was released on March 18, 1918.
- Edith Storey as Belle Jones
- Wheeler Oakman as John MacDonald
- Mignon Anderson as Kate MacDonald
- Marion Skinner as Pansy Bryan
- Paul Weigel as Mike Bryan
- Fred Malatesta as Ted "Blackie" Jerome
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Plot
Belle Jones is in an unhappy marriage with gambler Blackie Jerome. After the birth of their baby, Blackie abandons them both, heading to a mining camp in El Dorado. To support her and her child, Belle takes up doing laundry. However, she is unable to earn enough to support both of them. She learns of Blackie's whereabouts and heads to El Dorado. Meanwhile, Blackie has been wooing Kate McDonald, the sister of prospector John. He does not tell her that he is married, and promises to marry her. John finds out the truth, and the two men argue, with Blackie eventually falling off a cliff to his death. His body is being brought into town just as Belle arrives with her baby. Distraught over not being able support herself and her child, she abandons her baby, who is adopted by John and Kate.
Belle takes to singing in music halls to support herself. John strikes it rich as a prospector. After some years, she learns of MacDonald becoming wealthy. At the same time, John has seen Belle perform and has become entranced with her. Belle, not knowing that John has seen her perform, sends a letter to him, blackmailing him. But when she arrives, the two recognize one another. When the toddler now calls out for Kate and John, Belle tears up the check John has given her, and the two reconcile, with John proposing to Belle.