Premiered 8 Jan. 1922
Genre: Melodrama
The Plot:
This film was based on the J.R. Barrie novel The Little Minister (London, 1891) and the play of the same name (New York, 1897). James Morrison plays the title character, Gavin Dishart, who is the newly appointed minister to the village of Thrums in Scotland. The village is in turmoil as the poverty-stricken residents, who are mostly weavers, frequently riot against the town's main employers, the textile manufacturers. The minister calms the people, but Alice Calhoun, who stars as Lady Babbie, and likes to pretend that she is a Gypsy to hide her true identity, is not convinced. The minister, however, can't help falling in love with her. She hears of a raid by soldiers and warns the villagers. However, she is warned that the minister will lose his position if they marry. She reluctantly agrees to wed her guardian, Lord Rintoul (Henry Herbert) so that he can keep her inheiritance. On the eve of her wedding, Gavin learns of her predicament and is injured in the resulting quarrel. Babbie rushes to his aid, and the minister professes his love and proposes to her. This is a dilemna for Babbie. But fate intervenes: The villain Rintoul is swept down a river in a terrific storm, but the minister gallantly rescues him. Given a new lease on life, Rintoul has a guilty conscience and relinquishes his claim to Babbie. Lady Babbie reveals her true identity, and she and the Little Minister are reunited and marry in the little church in the little village.
This story was been filmed many times in the early days of cinema, first in 1913 and then in 1915, and generally with the intent to further the career of an up-and-coming actress. Betty Compson starred in a 1921 version. Katherine Hepburn was in a 1934 version, to great acclaim.
(c) Vitagraph LP 17381
* Director David Smith also went by the moniker "David Divad" in other films.
