A Timely Interception

A conventional romance with some comedy, as is usual. There is some good character drawing in it. but no new situations or fresh characters or depth of meaning. It is a commercial offering, skillfully put together for the market. The setting is an oil well country, and the farm is going to be sold for a song, but is saved by the "timely interception." The photography is poor for Biograph. - The Moving Picture World, June 21, 1913

Lillian Gish and Bobby Harron are about to get married, but when uncle Lionel Barrymore is fired from his job in the oil fields, daddy Chrystie Miller lends him the money for his sick daughter and puts the farm up for sale. Will the Oil Syndicate, who have found lots of oil on the property, buy the farm for a pittance, or will things turn out right for the young lovers?

After five years behind the camera, D. W. Griffith had assembled movie-making techniques, cast, crew and a movie audience that flocked to see his latest productions. His bosses were happy, and saw no need to change anything, but Griffith was nearing the end of his patience, pushing for longer movies and bigger production values. Even so, this minor production boasts everything one could hope for in a short subject in 1913, including Miss Gish and Mr. Harron being cute, a fine race against the clock and fine photography. If you like, you can go to the Harpoden.com site and see it for yourself.