John Hare is The Vicar Of Wakefield. When his banker flees the country with his money, he and his family are ruined; his has made over the income from his parish to the support of the poor. Wealthy Ben Webster offers him the vicarage of his estate, but it is only fifteen pounds a year. Nonetheless, he is content with the poor living, taking comfort and delight in his family. But there are others more than happy to steal what little he has left, and Webster's spendthrift nephew, Frank Woolfe, steals his daughter, Laura Crowe, with a false elopement and a forged marriage certificate. Hare goes in search of his daughter, and is thrown into prison.
There had already been five screen versions of Oliver Goldsmith's novel over the previous six years. In 1917, Thanhouser would produce another one, and then silence. Nowadays it seems that Goldsmith has fallen out of favor. Versions of SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER show up fairly often, but who remembers "The Deserted Village" or the name of Goody Two-Shoes?
Nonetheless, this is a fine version of the story of the patient and god-loving man. Although a bit static, director Fred Paul offers some fine compositions, and the performers, although a bit stagey, make the most of their silent miming. For the year it was made, it is a fine version of the story, and still has its moments of strength.
